BURLESQUE THE MUSICAL Postpones West End Run to 2027 and Delays UK Tour Opening

The musical will now launch its national tour in Sunderland on 6 August, with its Woking engagement moved to November and a new London venue to be announced.

BURLESQUE THE MUSICAL has postponed its planned West End season until 2027 and delayed the beginning of its first major UK tour to complete final technical preparations.

The production had been scheduled to begin its tour at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking on 25 July. It will now open at Sunderland Empire on 6 August, where performances will continue until 22 August. The Woking engagement has been rescheduled for 3 to 7 November 2026.

Producers said the revised opening date would give the creative team additional time to prepare the large-scale production before it begins its 24-venue journey around the UK.

Audience members holding tickets for the original Woking performances will be contacted by their point of sale with information about exchanges or refunds. The tour is currently scheduled to continue through England, Scotland and Wales before concluding in Canterbury in May 2027.

The separate London production had been due to begin previews at The Arts at Marble Arch on 12 September 2026 and continue until 31 January 2027. Those performances will no longer proceed at the venue, with ticket holders to receive full refunds.

A new West End theatre and revised dates are expected to be announced for 2027.

Producers described the change as “absolutely a postponement, not a cancellation”, adding that they were exploring options for a major London return. They said the decision would allow the musical to return with the concert-style staging, sound design and spectacle intended for the production.

The production also sought to address concerns surrounding the revised schedule by stating that the UK tour was “fully financed and on a secure footing”.

Faye Brookes leads the touring cast as Burlesque Lounge owner Tess Richarde, the character played by Cher in the original film. Gracie O’Brien appears as Ali Rose, with Ryan Carter as Sean and Ms Loretta, Davide Fienauri as Vince, Tyler Davis as Jackson and Vanessa Ela Young as Nikki.

The stage musical reworks the story of Steven Antin’s 2010 film, which starred Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci and Kristen Bell. In the theatrical adaptation, Ali travels to New York in search of her mother and becomes immersed in the music, ambition and personal relationships of an underground burlesque club.

The score features songs by Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Jess Folley, Todrick Hall and Antin. Racky Plews directs the touring production, with choreography by Robin Antin and Aaron Renfree.

Christina Aguilera is among the musical’s producers, alongside Adam Paulden, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Steven Antin, Clint Culpepper and In Fine Company.

BURLESQUE THE MUSICAL previously played seasons in Manchester and Glasgow before making its West End debut at the Savoy Theatre in 2025. Producers said they remained committed to bringing the production back to London in 2027, with details of its new theatrical home to be announced.