By Grace Hatchell, currently pricing up red dresses she absolutely cannot afford outside Sunderland Empire
“Big mistake. Big. Huge.”
Well, someone’s bringing a slice of Beverly Hills glamour to Sunderland Empire Theatre, because PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL is strutting back onto the road in 2027.
Pretty Woman: The Musical. is heading back out on a major UK tour in 2027, and honestly? I can already hear the collective scream of theatre fans rummaging through wardrobes looking for something “Vivian-coded.” The smash-hit production will stop off in Sunderland from Tuesday 29 June to Saturday 3 July 2027 following its record-breaking West End run and completely sold-out first UK and Ireland tour. Casting is still to be announced, but judging by the reaction whenever this show pops up, tickets might disappear faster than me trying to walk through Eldon Square after payday without buying snacks.
For anyone who somehow escaped the entire 1990s, Pretty Woman follows Vivian and Edward — two people from completely different worlds who somehow find each other in amongst the chaos, glamour and emotional baggage. It’s the story audiences already adore from the iconic film, but the musical gives the characters even more heart, humour and sparkle along the way. And yes… THAT song is in there too.
The production features direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, whose credits include Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde and Hairspray. The original score comes from Grammy winner Bryan Adams and longtime collaborator Jim Vallance, the duo behind hits including Summer of ’69 and Heaven.
The book is by legendary filmmaker Garry Marshall and screenwriter J. F. Lawton, while Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s worldwide hit Oh, Pretty Woman still provides one of the musical’s biggest crowd-pleasing moments.
Behind the scenes, the creative team also includes scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Tom Rogers from the original Broadway designs by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg, sound design by John Shivers, hair design by Josh Marquette, and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Will Van Dyke. Direction for the tour is recreated by Dominic Shaw.
The musical first premiered in Chicago in 2018 before heading to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre, later opening productions across Germany, the US and London’s West End. After finishing its London run in 2023, the show headed out on its first UK and Ireland tour, where audiences absolutely devoured it like complimentary breakfast waffles at a fancy hotel.
And honestly, this feels like exactly the kind of show Sunderland audiences go properly wild for. Big songs. Big romance. Big dresses. Big laughs. It’s basically a giant glitter-covered night out wrapped in nostalgia and expensive-looking hotel lobbies.
ATG+ presale tickets go on sale Wednesday 13 May at 10am, with general sale opening Friday 15 May at 10am via ATG Tickets.
Right, if anyone needs me, I’ll be practising my “welcome to Hollywood” walk while trying not to trip over my own satchel outside Greggs.
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