CELEBRATING its 25th anniversary by joining a small number of musicals to reach that milestone, is Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.

The show joins such lauded musicals as Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Miss Saigon, Evita and Cats in reaching a quarter of a century on the stage, and is celebrating with national tour that comes to the Mayflower in Southampton on Monday.

Seen by more than 22 million music fans since it opened in London’s West End in 1989, Buddy speaks an international language and continues to have audiences from eight to 80 rocking in the aisles across the globe.

Buddy tells the enduring tale of the musical icon’s meteoric rise to fame and his final legendary performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic and untimely death at the age of 22.

Boasting a multi-talented cast, the show presents two hours of music with more than 20 of Holly’s greatest hits, including the timeless classics That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy and Rave On.

With the Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace and Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba completing a stellar musical line-up, Buddy promises entertainment for all the family.

* Buddy is at the Mayflower from Monday, March 31 to Saturday, April 5. Tickets on 02380 711811 or mayflower.org.uk.