The Spice Girls have brought Girl Power back to London.On Tuesday morning Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown made their first appearance together since their reunion tour in 2008.The chart-topping girl group stepped out to launch Viva Forever, a new West End musical based on their songs.It is the brainchild of producer Judy Craymer, the lady behind Abba musical Mamma Mia!, and features 18 Spice Girls hits, including their nine number ones.
The script has been written by comedian Jennifer Saunders and tells the story of 'a beautiful, talented girl and her best friends who get swept up in the obsession of today's TV celebrity culture'.The musical 'charts her journey into the world of overnight fame and its impact on her relationships with her mother and the friends she thought she'd have forever'. While Posh, Ginger, Sporty, Baby and Scary are not be treading the boards themselves, they have been involved in the production since the outset three years ago.The launch was held at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, which is where they filmed their debut single Wannabe in 1996 when it was the Midland Grand Hotel.With their arms wrapped around each other, the quintet posed for photographs in front of the same staircase that featured in their first hit more than 15 years ago.It was back in December 2000 that the girls decided to pursue their separate careers – Geri left in 1998.Since then they have moved in very different directions.
Victoria is a successful fashion designer, Mel B a reality TV show star and judge on the Australian X Factor, and Emma a DJ on Heart FM.Mel C had a chart-topping solo career and performed in the West End production of Blood Brothers, while Geri also enjoyed success as a solo artist before moving into fashion design.But they will all come together this week for the next chapter in the Spice Girls story.Victoria – who flew in to the UK specially for the launch of the musical, which opens at the Piccadilly Theatre in December – tweeted on Sunday: "Travelling to London today! Song of the day 'Spice Up Your Life'."