CELEBRATING its quarter of a century with a 2014 UK national tour, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story returns to The Mayflower Theatre for one week only on Monday.

Seen by over 22 million music fans since it opened in London’s West End in 1989, Buddy continues to have audiences rocking in the aisles across the globe.

It 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.

In 18 short months the Texas-born boy revolutionized the face of contemporary music influencing everyone from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen.

The talented cast present two terrific hours of music with over 20 of his greatest hits, including the timeless classics That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy and Rave On.

The Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace and Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba complete the line-up.

Buddy’s widow, Maria Elena Holly, says of the show’s latest milestone: “When we opened the show we never imagined Buddy’s music and story would still be rocking stages and entertaining audiences around the world week-in week-out 25 years later. I believe this is testament to a great show – the first of its kind – and to the enduring appeal of Buddy Holly and what he represents; a youthful energy, huge talent and creativity, combined with a determination to make a lasting impression in this world.

“Buddy was certainly a one-off, as the show demonstrates. It’s incredible to witness subsequent generations getting carried away in Buddy’s music – proof that his spirit lives on through all of us.”

The show inspired a generation of multimillion selling jukebox musicals and will join a small but lauded number of iconic musicals, including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Miss Saigon, Evita and Cats in reaching a staggering 25 years on stage.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or visit mayflower.org.uk