All five members of legendary British pop group The Spice Girls braved sub-zero conditions to greet fans on the red carpet at the opening night of stage musical Viva Forever in London on Tuesday.
Geri “Ginger” Halliwell, Emma “Baby” Bunton, Victoria “Posh” Beckham, Mel “Sporty” C and Mel “Scary” B were joined by show creator Jennifer Saunders to meet hoards of screaming fans at the Piccadilly Theatre in the British capital’s West End.
True to form, Beckham kept her bandmates and fans waiting after getting stuck in traffic, but the remaining members kept busy by posing for pictures on their mobile phones and hugging.
Simon Fuller, manager of the 55-million-selling band, threw his weight behind the production, declaring “the spirit behind the Spice Girls lives again.” Bunton, Mel B, Halliwell and Beckham all attended with their children, and have previously said they hope that the show will introduce their music to their sons and daughters.
Taking to the stage at the end of the show, the band paid tribute to the show’s creators and actors.
“There are so many people to thank, thank you all for being here but the people I’d like to thank is the wonderful cast,” said Mel C.
Halliwell praised producer Judy Craymer for “making the Spice Girls’ dream come true” calling her a “true woman of girl power”.
Beckham, who sat apart from the other members during the show, thanked Saunders and her family “for being here, I love you all.” The show follows the fortunes of aspiring singer Viva, played by television actress Hannah John-Kamen, who enters reality talent contest “Star Maker”.
