Lily Collins supports boyfriend Jamie Campbell Bower at opening night of Bend It Like Beckham The Musical

 
Out to support: Lily Collins (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA)
Jonathan Brady/PA
Emma Powell24 June 2015
The Weekender

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Actress Lily Collins looked stunning as she stepped out to support her boyfriend Jamie Campbell Bower at the opening night of his new show Bend It Like Beckham – the musical version of the 2002 film starring Keira Knightley.

Collins – who last month rekindled her romance with the actor – stole the attention of photographers outside the Phoenix Theatre on Wednesday night as she arrived in a chic black dress with a sheer overlay and nude heels.

Campbell Bower plays coach Joe in the new musical which follows football crazy Jess, played by Natalie Dew, who despite being forbidden from playing football, joins her local women’s team the Harriers.

Director Gurinder Chadha – who also directed the original film and helped to pen the book with Paul Mayeda Berges – looked red carpet ready in a floor length gown with gold detailing as she stepped out for the opening night.

Bend It Like Beckham opening night

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Speaking at the event, Chadha said that the audience are the most important part of the performance for her.

“The biggest thing for me is the audience,” she said. “As the audience are pouring out it’s the most diverse audience I’ve ever seen.”

The red carpet was lined with women in traditional Indian dress as they welcomed guests including Naughty Boy, Omid Djalili, Vanessa Feltz and Esther Rantzen to the sounds of drumming.

Despite rumours, former One Direction singer Zayn Malik did not attend the event as he is currently in Paris, where earlier today he sat on the front row for Valentino's S/S16 show.

Chadha broke the news to expectant fans, tweeting: "Looking fwd to @NaughtyBoyMusic seeing the show.Sadly @zaynmalik cannot make it tonight but will come another nite x."

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