Burlesque musical to open at Sunderland Empire after West End delay

Burlesque The Musical, inspired by the 2010 movie starring Christina Aguilera and Cher, was originally scheduled to begin its UK tour in Woking, Surrey, before heading to London’s West End in September.

However, in a turn of events, producers have announced a change of plans due to what they described as “final technical preparations.”

The tour will now launch at Sunderland Empire on 6 August with the Woking dates rescheduled to November 3 to 7.

The schedule changes follow reports regarding the production’s physical sets not being delivered to the Woking venue ahead of the planned opening.

Producers said: “Audiences holding tickets for the original performances will be contacted by their point of sale regarding exchanges or refunds.”

The show’s West End debut has also been postponed until 2027.

On Instagram, the official Burlesque The Musical account said: “All ticket holders will be contacted by The Arts at Marble Arch regarding a full refund.

“We can’t wait to welcome audiences to our Burlesque lounge across the UK from August.

“Unfortunately, this was out of our hands.

“We know you love the show and we love you right back.

“Thank you for all your continued support.”

Producers stressed that the London delay is “absolutely a postponement, not a cancellation.”

They said: “We are already exploring opportunities for a major London return in 2027 and look forward to announcing our future West End home in due course.

“This is a strategic decision designed to ensure the production returns to London exactly as we want it to… With all the fabulosity, concert-like experiential quality and razzle-dazzle that our audiences deserve.”

They also noted that the tour remains “fully financed and on a secure footing.”

Burlesque The Musical is produced by a team including Steven Antin, the writer and director of the original film, alongside Adam Paulden, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Clint Culpepper, and In Fine Company.

Christina Aguilera also serves as a producer.

Set in Los Angeles, Burlesque tells the story of Ali, a small-town girl who rises to stardom in a struggling underground club.

The original film featured a star-studded cast including Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, and Kristen Bell.