Amy Winehouse musical enters West End development

An Amy Winehouse stage musical has moved into early West End development as of Oct. 22, trade publication Variety reported, 15 years after the singer died at age 27.

The project would test whether a catalogue drawn from only two studio albums can support another London jukebox musical, a show built around existing songs; the format already includes ABBA, Tina Turner and Michael Jackson shows.

Variety said Broadway producer Catherine Schreiber is understood to be involved. Schreiber’s producing credits include Cabaret, Rent and the stage adaptation of High School Musical, according to the publication, which also said casting has started.

One source told Variety that development of the production was “the worst kept secret in theater.” The report did not name a theatre, director, writer, opening date or commercial backers.

Mitch Winehouse, Amy Winehouse’s father and the overseer of her estate, is also believed to be involved, Variety reported. The publication said that would likely point to the use of some of Winehouse’s better-known songs.

The shape of the musical remains unclear. Variety said it was not known whether the show would dramatise Winehouse’s life, as Tina – The Tina Turner Musical does, or use her songs for a fictional story, closer to the model of Mamma Mia!.

Winehouse released two studio albums before her death in 2011. Her catalogue includes Back to Black, Valerie and Rehab, songs that remain central to her commercial and cultural legacy.

The idea of a stage work around Winehouse has circulated before. Variety said Mitch Winehouse had reportedly discussed the possibility as far back as 2017, but linked Schreiber’s reported involvement to renewed momentum for the project.

The development follows another screen treatment of the singer. Back to Black, a biopic starring Marisa Abela and directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, was released two years ago and drew mixed reviews, Variety said.

Jukebox musicals have become a regular part of the West End offer, from Mamma Mia! to Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and MJ the Musical. The format is not risk-free: Variety said I’m Every Woman, a Chaka Khan musical that opened in London earlier this year, received weak reviews.

Representatives for Schreiber and Mitch Winehouse did not respond to Variety before publication, the outlet said.

Source: trade publication Variety, Oct. 22, 2026