It's the one where they sing. A musical parody based on the beloved TV series Friends will come to Southampton early in 2026, prior to a West End run. Featuring many of the most iconic moments from the worldwide smash hit 90s show, Friends! The Musical Parody will be at Mayflower Theatre from January 6 to 10, 2026. Tickets for the show, a sensation in New York and Las Vegas, will go on sale on Friday November 1, although members can buy earlier next week.
Friends! The Musical Parody: A Hit Show Comes to the UK
Expect a side-splitting musical comedy packed with scenes from all ten seasons of the NBC series, which ran from 1994 to 2004 and made huge stars of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. This uncensored, fast-paced romp features an entirely original musical score and showcases the escapades of the world’s most famous group of twenty-somethings as they tackle the challenges of work, life and love in 1990s Manhattan.
The Journey of Friends! The Musical Parody
Join Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe in Central Perk. Whether you're in a love triangle, trying to make it as an actor, or just can’t quit your day job, you’ll be laughing, crying, and quoting your favourite lines all night long! Producers, who were the team behind Hairspray, are promising a night full of laughs and fun for Friends fans aged 13 plus.
Friends! The Musical Parody will be directed by Michael Gyngell, who previously worked on The Full Monty, with full casting for the show to be announced soon. The show is to be created and debuted at The Barn in Cirencester next summer, followed by a UK and Ireland tour to venues in cities including York, Nottingham, Dublin, Chester and Cardiff. A West End run will follow.
The Evolution of a Beloved Sitcom
The finale of Friends, in May 2004, remains the most watched TV episode of the century. The beloved sitcom is still constantly aired around the world and has earned a whole new audience among teens and those not able to watch it first time around.
Book tickets for the Southampton dates at mayflower.org.uk or by calling 023 8071 1811. The musical, which has been performed in New York and Las Vegas, will visit Sunderland as part of a “major UK and Ireland tour” set to commence next summer. Iconic moments from all ten seasons of the popular sitcom are recreated in the musical, which also features an original score. The original Friends television show concerned a group of twenty- and thirty-somethings attempting to navigate work, life, and love in 1990s Manhattan. The UK version of the parody, under licence from Theatre Mogul, is being produced by Mark Goucher, Matthew Gale, and Óskar Eiriksson. The musical score is provided by Assaf Gleizner, who has seen success - including with a Grammy nomination - as a composer, MD, orchestrator, and arranger in New York City and beyond. Mr Gleizner's credits include The Office! A Musical Parody, 90210! The Musical, The Swingaroos, and Arts for Autism. The tour will kick off at The Barn, in Cirencester, next July, with Mr Goucher commenting: “We are looking forward to working with Iwan [Lewis, founding artistic director of The Barn] and his team, creating this brand-new production which will then tour the UK and Ireland.” Sunderland Empire, operated by ATG Entertainment, saw its foundation stone laid by Vesta Tilley in 1906. It bills itself as “the North East’s premiere entertainment venue.” More information is available at https://friendsthemusicaltour.co.uk/
A Central Perk For Everyone: The Tour Dates
The hit New York and Las Vegas sensation, FRIENDS! The Musical Parody, will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour from July 2025. Opening at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester from 14 July, this side-splitting musical comedy is packed with all of the iconic moments from all 10 seasons of the beloved television series. This uncensored, fast-paced romp features an entirely original musical score and showcases the escapades of the world’s most famous group of twenty-somethings as they tackle the challenges of work, life and love in 1990s Manhattan. This hit musical is recommended for audiences aged 13+.
The creative team includes Books & Lyrics by Bob and Tobly McSmith, Music by Assaf Gleizner and Set and Lighting Design by Andrew Exeter.
The first tour dates for this iconic musical comedy are Barn, Cirencester (14 July – 23 August 2025) Nottingham Theatre Royal (15 – 20 September), Sunderland Empire (22 – 27 September), York Grand Opera House (29 September – 4 October), Cheltenham Everyman Theatre (6 – 11 October), Wolverhampton Grand (13 – 18 October), Dublin Bord Gais Theatre (20 – 25 October), Cardiff New Theatre (27 October – 1 November), Chester Storyhouse (17 – 22 November), Malvern Theatre (24 – 29 November) and Southampton Mayflower Theatre (5 – 10 January 2025). Further tour dates to be announced.
Full cast and further creative team to be announced in due course.
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