WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW
THE BURT BACHARACH SONGBOOK
ANNOUNCES EIGHT ADDITIONAL UK DATES IN OCTOBER 2026
Led by longtime Bacharach music director ROB SHIRAKBARI
With the ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT ORCHESTRA
Featuring special guests RUMER with ED HARCOURT and SHAUN ESCOFFERY
(please check venue for who is appearing)
Additional special guest artists to be announced
Following overwhelming demand, What The World Needs Now – The Burt Bacharach Songbook has announced an additional run of eight UK dates in October 2026.
Led by Burt Bacharach’s longtime arranger and musical director Rob Shirakbari and performed with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, the production celebrates one of the most influential and enduring songwriters of all time.
The extended dates will see the show open on 5th October 2026 at Southend Cliffs Pavilion before touring across the country and culminating on 13th October 2026 in Bournemouth BIC.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
The evening featured live performances by beloved UK artists Rumer (known for hits such as ‘Slow’ & ‘Aretha’ from her 1 million-selling album Seasons of my Soul) and Shaun Escoffery (the British soul/R&B singer/actor who has performed with major artists including Quincy Jones and currently stars as Mufasa in London’s West End massive hit production of The Lion King) both of whom have worked with Burt Bacharach and the Mercury nominated singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt plus additional guests to be announced.
OCTOBER 2026 UK DATES
5 October – Southend – Cliffs Pavilion (Rumer Only)
6 October – Manchester – Bridgewater Hall
7 October – Liverpool – Philharmonic Hall
8 October – Birmingham – Symphony Hall
10 October – Gateshead – The Glasshouse
11 October – Halifax – Victoria Theatre
12 October – Leicester – De Montfort Hall
13 October – Bournemouth – BIC
Performance time – 7.30pm
Tickets available directly from the venues or from Ticketline.co.uk (click here)
The show features many of Bacharach’s classics including ‘The Look of Love’, ‘Walk on By’, ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’, ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’, ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’ and the timeless anthem ‘What The World Needs Now Is Love’.
Bacharach remains one of the most decorated songwriters in modern music with a catalogue that includes 73 US Top 40 and 52 UK Top 40 hits as well as three Academy Awards, six Grammy Awards and an Emmy. His songs have been recorded by hundreds of artists across multiple generations and genres.
Rob Shirakbari began working with Bacharach in his teens and became his longtime musical director, arranger, and orchestrator, shaping the sound of his touring shows for decades.
‘A man [Rob Shirakbari] so instrumental in helping me put this show together… writing the arrangements, writing the orchestrations. I couldn’t have done it without him.’ – Burt Bacharach
‘These songs are the star of the show, and we’re here to serve the music as he intended. I know he’d be proud to see his work reaching fans old and new.’ – Rob Shirakbari
What The World Needs Now – produced by Angelo Bundini – promises an unforgettable evening celebrating the music of Burt Bacharach.