A musical which premiered at a Walthamstow pub is about to make the transition to the West End.

WAG! The Musical opened at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre pub in Hoe Street a year ago this week.

Writer Belvedere Pashun says he realised his show, a musical look at the wives and girlfriends of footballers, was destined for the big time when Andrew Lloyd Webber and Barry Hearn turned up at the pub.

He said: “It was a bizarre and exciting moment, because Andrew Lloyd Webber doesn’t go to many fringe events.

“Having him there just blew us away and made us think ‘Hmm, we’re onto something here.’”

Mr Pashun was approached by West End producers soon after and, in July, the musical will open at the Charing Cross Theatre in central London.

Real-life WAG Pippa Fulton was in the original production and will appear in the West End spectacular.

The 30-year-old, who is engaged to Brentford striker Clayton Donaldson, said: “It’s amazing to think we will be taking the musical to the West End and I’m over the moon to be part of it.

“I was in the play for the whole Walthamstow run. It’s a great theatre and it’s a time of my life which I will always look back on fondly.”

A film of the show is planned to coincide with the 2014 World Cup and Mr Pashun is working hard on a sequel.

He said: “Part two will premiere in September and, however well the West End show does, I can promise you we will open at Ye Olde Rose and Crown.

“It’s a lucky place for me now. They gave us the chance to put the show on and that opportunity has changed my life.”

Bun Constantinou, co-owner of the pub, said: “This is the first show we’ve had that has made the transition to the West End. We’re delighted.

“We have a lot of great shows down here. It would be nice to think that some of our other productions will get some more attention because of the success of WAG.”