Pretty Woman Musical: UK Tour, Songs, Reviews & Tickets

Pretty Woman: The Musical brings the 1990 rom-com to the stage with Bryan Adams’ original pop-rock score. The UK and Ireland tour runs through September 2024, with recent stops at Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Here’s everything you need to know — including reviews, songs, and where to catch it.

Music and Lyrics By: Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance · Book By: Garry Marshall and JF Lawton · UK and Ireland Tour: Until September 2024 · Recent Venue: Bord Gáis Energy Theatre · Cast Highlight: Amber Davies and Ore Oduba

The table below consolidates verified facts about the musical, including key personnel, timeline, and current touring status.

Is Pretty Woman: The Musical any good?

The musical pulls its story straight from the 1990 film — Vivian Ward, a free-spirited Hollywood sex worker, is hired by businessman Edward Lewis for a week in Beverly Hills. The book was written by Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton, the same creative team behind the original film, with direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (BroadwayWorld). That continuity with the source material is both the show’s strength and, for some critics, its limitation.

Audience and critic reviews

UK and Ireland reviews split along predictable lines. Glasgow’s Theatre Royal run drew praise for sheer entertainment value — one reviewer called it “an entertaining production that at its core is about finding love, freedom and never giving up on your dreams,” starring Amber Davies as Vivian and Oliver Savile as Edward (Theatre and Tonic). Dublin audiences got a similar vibe from the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre run in July 2024: “The songs are great — even if they do sometimes seem out of place in certain scenes — and the cast’s energy is infectious,” according to reviewer Fran Winston (No More Workhorse). Things We Enjoy also highlighted “strong cast and lavish spectacle” with David Rockwell’s sets adding visual punch to the touring production (Things We Enjoy).

Not everyone agrees. The Mancunion’s Manchester Palace Theatre review called the adaptation “a disappointing adaptation of the 90s rom com, let down by its lack of creativity beyond the movie” (The Mancunion). A London-based TripAdvisor reviewer was blunter: “Cheaply produced. Scenery was basic and amateur. No chemistry between Edward and Vivian” (TripAdvisor).

Cast performances

Amber Davies and Ore Oduba have emerged as standout names on the current UK tour. Davies played Vivian in Glasgow (the run ended 25 November 2023 at Theatre Royal), and the pairing has carried through to other venues (Theatre and Tonic). Samantha Barks has also performed “Anywhere But Here” from the score, showcasing the vocal demands of the material (YouTube).

Comparison to the movie

The show sticks close to the film plot, with adjustments for the stage medium. One Manchester review questioned whether the adaptation does justice to the film’s “timeless appeal” (Mini Travellers). The Birmingham press night at Alexandra Theatre offered a mixed verdict: David Rockwell’s neon-driven set design impressed, though some set changes were “clumsy” (A Brummie Home and Abroad).

What songs are in the Pretty Woman musical?

The Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance score offers a full evening’s worth of original material — this is not a jukebox musical pulling from existing hits, but a bespoke soundtrack written specifically for the stage version. The Wikipedia entry documents songs including “Welcome to Hollywood,” “Anywhere but Here,” “Something About Her,” “Luckiest Girl in the World,” “Rodeo Drive,” and “On a Night Like Tonight” (Wikipedia).

Bryan Adams soundtrack highlights

Bryan Adams released a solo album of Pretty Woman songs in 2022, re-recording tracks originally written for the musical — this came after the Broadway cast album dropped in 2018 (Wikipedia). The solo album features 16 songs including “Freedom,” “You’re Beautiful,” and “This Is Your Life” (Apple Music). Adams also posted videos of himself performing tracks like “Welcome to Hollywood,” “Never Give Up On A Dream,” “Rodeo Drive,” and “You and I” in February 2022 (BroadwayWorld).

New songs vs movie soundtrack

The musical does not use the original film’s soundtrack — instead, every number is original to the stage production. Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance wrote “You And I” for the Broadway production, produced by Adams himself (YouTube — Bryan Adams). You can explore the full playlist including “I Could Get Used To This” on Adams’ official YouTube channel (YouTube Playlist).

Where can you see Pretty Woman the musical?

The UK and Ireland tour has been hitting major regional theatres since 2022, with the current leg running through September 2024. The Savoy Theatre in London typically anchors the capital leg of any UK tour, though the official box office should be checked for the latest confirmed dates.

Current tour venues

The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin Docklands hosted the production in July 2024, with shows running nightly at 7:30pm and matinees on 6, 11, and 13 July (No More Workhorse). Other confirmed stops include Glasgow’s Theatre Royal (run ended 25 November 2023), Manchester’s Palace Theatre (ended 16 March 2024), and Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre, which hosted the 2024 press night (The Mancunion).

UK and Ireland locations

The tour has shown strong regional presence across Scotland, England, and Ireland — a pattern that suggests the production targets audiences beyond London. Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, and Dublin have all hosted, indicating the show is actively circulating through major UK cities rather than concentrating on a single hub.

London performances

The Savoy Theatre in London’s West End has been a regular stop on Pretty Woman tour routes. Given the tour extends through September 2024, a London engagement within that window is likely — check the Savoy Theatre’s official box office for confirmed dates and ticket availability.

Is Pretty Woman: The Musical going on tour?

Yes — the UK and Ireland tour is active and running through September 2024. The show launched its regional touring production in 2022 and has maintained a steady presence across major UK cities since then.

UK and Ireland tour dates

Verified tour stops include Glasgow (Theatre Royal, through 25 November 2023), Manchester (Palace Theatre, through 16 March 2024), Birmingham (Alexandra Theatre, 2024 press night), and Dublin (Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, July 2024). The confirmed end point is September 2024, covering all remaining UK and Ireland dates.

2026 possibilities

No official announcement has confirmed 2026 dates for Pretty Woman: The Musical. Given the September 2024 tour end marker, speculation about future extensions exists but remains unverified. For now, the current UK and Ireland tour is the only confirmed run.

Past Broadway run

The musical premiered on Broadway in 2018 and has since closed there — it is not currently running on Broadway. The production transitioned to touring productions, with the UK/Ireland tour being the most active ongoing iteration.

What is the Pretty Woman musical synopsis?

The musical is based directly on the 1990 film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, adapted with music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. The book was written by Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton — the same team behind the screenplay — with direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Wikipedia).

Plot summary

Vivian Ward is a free-spirited Hollywood prostitute hired by businessman Edward Lewis for a week in Beverly Hills. Over the course of their arrangement, both characters undergo personal transformations — Vivian gains financial stability and self-respect, while Edward rediscovers his capacity for genuine connection. The story follows the same arc as the film: business arrangement evolves into real romance, complications arise, and a final reconciliation plays out against the backdrop of LA luxury.

Key characters

Vivian Ward anchors the show as the protagonist — a character whose street smarts, warmth, and ambition drive the narrative. Edward Lewis provides the counterweight: a emotionally guarded billionaire whose encounter with Vivian slowly dismantles his cynicism. The supporting cast includes Happy Feet Hotel manager Mr. Thompson, Vivian’s friend Kit, and Edward’s colleague Phillip, each serving the same comic and plot functions as in the film.

Differences from 1990 film

The stage version retains the film’s core narrative but introduces original songs that add emotional dimension to key scenes. Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance’s score provides a contemporary pop-rock texture that differentiates the experience from the film soundtrack. However, critics from Manchester noted the adaptation sticks too closely to the source material — the stage version “lacks creativity beyond the movie” rather than carving out a distinctive theatrical identity (The Mancunion).

Tour Timeline

Four key phases mark the production’s journey from screen adaptation to current touring status.

The pattern: the production moved from Broadway to UK touring within four years, and regional cities have hosted longer runs than the capital leg.

What the Reviews Say

Critical reception and audience reactions offer a clearer picture of what to expect — and where the production falls short.

“Pretty Woman the Musical is an entertaining production that at its core is about finding love, freedom and never giving up on your dreams.”

— Theatre and Tonic (Glasgow review)

“The songs are great – even if they do sometimes seem out of place in certain scenes – and the cast’s energy is infectious.”

— Fran Winston, No More Workhorse (Dublin review)

“Pretty Woman the Musical was a disappointing adaptation of the 90s rom com, let down by its lack of creativity beyond the movie.”

— The Mancunion (Manchester review)

“Cheaply produced. Scenery was basic and amateur. No chemistry between Edward and Vivian.”

— Anonymous Traveller, TripAdvisor (London review)

Related reading: Bryan Adams Sings the Songs of PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL · Pretty Woman – The Musical

Frequently asked questions