New Dusty Springfield musical to get UK premiere

A new Dusty Springfield musical will premiere in the UK in 2018.

Dusty will be directed by Maria Friedman, who made her directional debut in 2012 with Merrily We Roll Along and will be written by Jonathan Harvey.

The musical is based on the notes and memoirs of Springfield's close friend and manager Vicki Wickham. Harvey's research for the musical, which will tell the story of the singer's life, included interviews with her lifelong personal assistant Pat Rhodes and record company executive Tris Penna.

This is the first 'authorised' musical about the life of Springfield. In 2015, a different production called Dusty opened at the Charing Cross Theatre. It had a troubled time in the West End, with producers pushing the official press night back for three months, losing nine cast members in the process.

Dusty Springfield's solo career began in 1963 and she went on to have hit records including "I Only Want to Be with You", "You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me" and "What Have I Done to Deserve This?"

Dates, cast and venue for Dusty are yet to be announced.

Dusty will premiere in the UK in 2018.