Jukebox musicals: Are these the most popular musicals in London?

Where can you see the songs of ABBA, Tina Turner, the Four Seasons and the Temptations performed live? In the West End of London of course, thanks to jukebox musicals.

Jukebox musicals are a very popular type of musical in London. These are original musicals but written for songs which already exist. It lets us listen to hits to rediscover less well known songs. It also lets new generations discover an artist or band! /p>

Whether you want a trip down memory lane or to find out more about a pop star's life, you'll find what you're looking for in the huge range of jukebox musicals London offers. If you want to gift someone tickets to a London show, jukebox musicals are a great choice because they bring together well known songs with incredible stories.

What is a jukebox musical ?

A jukebox musical is a musical based on existing songs by a particular artist or band. Sometimes this type of musical includes original songs by the artist themselves or by other composers to help the flow.

This type of musical can be divided into two categories. Some tell the story of the artist or band's lives, like Tina - The Tina Turner Musical which celebrates the life of the queen of rock 'n' roll. Others use the songs to create an original story, like Mamma Mia! which uses ABBA's hits.

Some shows use songs from lots of artists to tell a story. Moulin Rouge! The Musical uses songs from dozens of different artists, creating medleys and mashups.

When were jukebox musicals created?

According to historians, the first jukebox musical dates back to 1728: The Beggar's Opera by John Gay.

Another important moment in the jukebox musical's history is the creation of the musical Do Re Mi in 1962. A number of Broadway performers covered songs from this show which was about a jukebox (a device which lets you select and place recorded music). These different versions contributed to establishing the term jukebox musical.

This type of musical has gained popularity in the last few decades since the creation of Mamma Mia! which cemented the genre and propelled it into the 21st century.

What are the different types of jukebox musicals?

As explained earlier, there are two main types of jukebox musicals:

• biographies of artists or bands;
• original stories;

Jukebox musicals have a strong link with cinema. A number of these have been made into films including Saturday Night Fever which features the BeeGee's hits and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

How do I book tickets for a jukebox musical in London?

There are a number of jukebox musicals being performed in London. Almost every musical genre is represented:

• Mamma Mia! which tells the funny and moving story of a marriage with hits from ABBA;
• Moulin Rouge! The Musical, an adaptation of the famous film by Baz Luhrmann. The show is about an impossible love story between a poor poet and leading lady at the Moulin Rouge;
• Tina - The Tina Turner Musical which tells the story of the famous singer's life;
• Jersey Boys, adapted from the eponymous film by Clint Eastwood, this is a biography of the group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons;
• The Choir of Man, which brings together songs by Adele, Avicii, Sia and Guns 'n' Roses;
• Ain’t Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations, which looks at the sometimes turbulent lives of the Temptations;
• We Will Rock You an original dystopian story based on Queen's hits;
• Crazy For You a love story but with the songs written by George and Ira Gershwin.