Yesterday Musical Gets Green Light to Feature Beatles Songs in West End Stage Adaptation
The Yesterday musical is moving another step closer to the West End, with confirmation that The Beatles’ legendary song catalogue has been approved for the new stage adaptation of the hit 2019 film.
Cover Photo (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images): Richard Curtis and Emma Freud, the creative team behind the Yesterday musical stage adaptation featuring songs by The Beatles.
For anyone who loves musical theatre, The Beatles or both, this could be something rather special.
The much-loved film Yesterday, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, is being transformed into a stage musical. And now producer and writer Emma Freud has confirmed that permission has been secured to use The Beatles’ music in the production.
Considering just how closely guarded the band’s musical legacy is, that’s quite an achievement.
And with the creative team behind the original film involved, there’s every reason to be intrigued about how this rather unusual story will make the leap from cinema screen to theatre stage.
Yesterday Musical Secures Beatles Music for Stage Production
The biggest development for the Yesterday musical is confirmation that the production will be able to feature songs from The Beatles’ extraordinary catalogue.
Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, Emma Freud confirmed that the necessary agreement had been reached, allowing the team to move forward with developing the stage adaptation.
It’s difficult to imagine Yesterday without the music of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. After all, the entire story revolves around a world in which their songs have mysteriously disappeared from everyone’s memory.
From Hey Jude and Let It Be to Yesterday itself, the original film made brilliant use of some of the most recognisable songs ever written.
Exactly which songs will feature in the stage production has yet to be revealed, but securing access to the catalogue is certainly a major milestone.
Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis Return for Yesterday Musical
One of the most exciting aspects of the new production is the creative team bringing it to life.
Danny Boyle, who directed the original 2019 film, is set to direct the stage adaptation, while Richard Curtis and Emma Freud are developing the theatrical version.
Boyle is no stranger to ambitious productions. His work includes Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting and the spectacular opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
He also directed the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of Frankenstein, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller.
Curtis, meanwhile, is responsible for some of Britain’s best-loved romantic comedies, including Love Actually, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
That’s quite a creative combination.
However, turning a successful film into a stage musical isn’t simply a matter of adding songs and hoping for the best.
Freud has explained that the production remains in its workshop stages, with two workshops already completed and a third planned for October.
The script has reportedly reached its eleventh draft, as the creative team works on adapting the story specifically for live theatre.
And that’s encouraging. The strongest film-to-stage adaptations are usually those that embrace what theatre can do differently rather than simply recreating the film.
What Is Yesterday the Musical About?
For anyone unfamiliar with the film, Yesterday follows Jack Malik, a struggling musician who finds himself in a rather extraordinary situation.
After a mysterious worldwide blackout and a cycling accident, Jack wakes up to discover that nobody else remembers The Beatles.
Not their music. Not their fame. Nothing.
Realising that he is apparently the only person who remembers their songs, Jack begins performing them as his own, quickly finding the success that had previously eluded him.
But as his career takes off, he faces some difficult questions about fame, friendship, love and whether success is really worth having if it comes at the expense of everything that matters.
The original film starred Himesh Patel as Jack Malik, alongside Lily James as Ellie Appleton, with Ed Sheeran also making an appearance.
It’s a wonderfully imaginative premise, and one that could lend itself particularly well to a stage musical.
There’s certainly plenty of opportunity for humour, emotion and, of course, some rather spectacular musical moments.
When Will Yesterday the Musical Open in the West End?
Although development of the Yesterday musical is progressing, an official opening date has not yet been announced.
A theatre has reportedly been selected, but its identity remains under wraps.
Casting is also yet to be confirmed, although an open casting search for the leading role of Jack Malik was launched earlier this year. The production was looking for a male performer aged between 25 and 35 with strong singing abilities and skills on both guitar and piano.
It will be interesting to see who eventually takes on the role made famous by Himesh Patel.
At present, there are no confirmed performance dates or tickets on sale, so theatre fans will have to wait a little longer before making their plans.
A Big Moment for Beatles Fans and Musical Theatre
The announcement comes at an interesting time for The Beatles’ legacy.
Plans have also been unveiled for a major new Beatles attraction in Liverpool, with The Beatles Story set to relocate to a much larger city-centre home in 2028.
The new development will occupy the former St Johns Market site, while the famous St Johns Beacon is also set to become home to a Yellow Submarine-themed viewing experience. For Liverpool, a city where the band’s influence can still be felt around almost every corner, it’s another exciting chapter in a remarkable musical story. And with the Yesterday musical now moving forward, it seems The Beatles will continue finding new ways to reach audiences, both on stage and beyond.
Could Yesterday Be the Next Big West End Musical?
There is something particularly appealing about the idea of Yesterday becoming a fully staged musical.
The film already has a strong central story, a healthy dose of British humour and, perhaps most importantly, one of the greatest collections of songs imaginable. But it will be fascinating to see how Danny Boyle and the creative team translate the film’s more unusual moments into live theatre.
Will the production use elaborate staging and theatrical effects? Will it take a more intimate, storytelling-led approach? And how will those familiar Beatles songs be woven into the action?
Those are questions we’ll have to wait to see answered.
What we do know is that the Yesterday musical is continuing to develop, and securing permission to use The Beatles’ music is a significant step towards bringing it to the stage. For now, there may not be a theatre name or opening date, but this is certainly one production worth keeping an eye on.
And if it all comes together, the West End could have another rather big hit on its hands.
Matinee Dog will bring you further news on Yesterday the Musical as casting, theatre details and performance dates are confirmed.
