Rocky musical knocks out critics in Hamburg

Wladimir Klitschko, left, with his brother Vitali, Sylvester Stallone and cast members at the Rocky: Das Musical premiere this week. Photograph: Fabian Bimmer/Reuters

Rocky: Das Musical, the stage adaptation of the much-loved Sylvester Stallone film, has opened to a rapturous critical reception in Hamburg.

Stallone himself was present at Sunday night's premiere at the TUI Operettenhaus, as were his co-producers, the Ukranian boxing brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. The actor told Sky News: "I really truly believe that this thing here is going to be extraordinarily successful. I don't know how it can fail because it's about the people."

He could well be right, since German newspapers were full of praise for the $15m (£9.45m) musical. The tabloid Bild exclaimed, "Rocky knocks Hamburg out", while headlines in the local press dubbed the musical "a triumph" and declared: "Big emotions; big theatre".

Meanwhile, Spiegel Online awarded it a "points victory", adding "the competition among musicals is tough, but this boxer epic can win".

Originally written in English, but translated into German for its world premiere, the musical is rumoured to be planning a Broadway run in 2013.

Directed by Alex Timbers, who is leading workshops on the recently reported Jeff Buckley musical The Last Goodbye, Rocky has a score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and a book by Thomas Meehan.

The high-tech production sticks closely to the original story charting the rise and romance of amateur boxer Rocky Balboa, played by Drew Sarich. It also features several major hit songs from the original soundtrack, including Eye of the Tiger and Bill Conti's theme, Gonna Fly Now.

Musicals have become big business in Hamburg, where hit shows include Tarzan and The Lion King have helped generate around €500m (£400m) a year for the local economy.