Move Over Billy Elliott!

Best bit: The Bollywood-style song and dance numbers.

Any boring bits? Only if you're immune to sentimental musicals.

Who would like it? Families with teens.

Who wouldn't like it? Musical theatre grinches.

Morning after effect: Can't get the high pitched melody of empowerment anthem Girl Perfect out of my head.

Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars

A rollicking musical romp with enough British bottle to make you want to wrap yourself in a Union Jack and devour a chicken tikka masala, Bend It Like Beckham is, to quote dazzling opening number UB2, certainly "a little bit Punjab, a little bit UK, a little splash of saffron on a backdrop of grey". The song, much like the musical, is a tribute to the vibrant colour and culture of the UK's Indian community and its fusion with the bustling streets of London, namely Southall. In a political climate hijacked by the great immigration debate, it's a bold and timely reminder of what it really means to be British, as well as a heartwarming coming of age tale with some splendid song and dance thrown in for good measure.

Fusion is the operative word when it comes to music, storyline and set design, and is the primary reason for protagonist Jess' dilemma; her talent and love for football is at odds with the expectations of her conservative Sikh parents. When Jess meets fellow footballer Jules and joins the local girls team, she faces some hard decisions which see her dreams and sense of duty collide. Elements of her story are reflected in West End institution Billy Elliot, a historic musical closing in April 2016, leaving room for a new classic. Move over Billy, here's Jess! There's Bollywood-style dancing, football chants and even a little romance on the horizon for our girl hero.

Based on the 2002 film, this plucky feel-good musical is helmed by original director Gurinder Chadha and follows the storyline pretty closely, with myriad interludes for upbeat empowerment anthems like Girl Perfect and ballads of reflection and bittersweet melancholy like There She Goes. Howard Goodall's score is perhaps one of the best things about the production, breathing new life into the familiar musical theatre tropes of self-discovery, parental despair and culture clash. I particularly loved the use of traditional Indian singing and sat in awe of the acrobatic vocals of Shahid Khan and Rekha Sawhney.

At times, the musical theatre grinch in me growled at the incessantly syrupy on stage proceedings, but it was mostly drowned out by the glitz of bejewelled saris, the appearance of a lanky-haired David Beckham lookalike and a London much like the one I've come to know and love.

Reviewed by Teia Fregona

Saturday 6 January 2016
Phoenix Theatre, London
Find me on Twitter: @_londontheatre_

View our show pages for more information about Bend it Like Beckham, Phoenix Theatre.