Preview: Kinky Boots at Stockton Globe

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Courtney Bowman to Star as Lauren in Kinky Boots The Musical

Kinky Boots

Stockton Globe

Tuesday 29 April – Saturday 3 May 2025.

Producers ROYO and Curve are delighted to announce WhatsOnStage Award-winner, Courtney Bowman, will star as Lauren in the brand-new Made at Curve production of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Kinky Boots The Musical, which will tour the UK and Ireland in 2025.

Courtney joins the previously announced Johannes Radebe (Strictly Come Dancing) as Lola and Dan Partridge (Grease) as Charlie Price.

Kinky Boots The Musical features a score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein. It will be directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai

Foster (The Wizard Of Oz, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliot).

Courtney Bowman won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Performer in a Musical in 2023 for her portrayal of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Her other theatre credits include: Closer to Heaven (Turbine Theatre), Cool Rider: 10 th Anniversary Concert (London Palladium), Pretty Woman (Savoy Theatre), SIX (Arts Theatre/Lyric Theatre) and she was part of the original cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre/Sheffield Crucible). Courtney’s TV credits include Eastenders (BBC) and the lead role of Little Cook Small for 2 series in Big Cook Little Cook (CBeebies).

After inheriting his family’s failing shoe factory and with a relationship on the rocks, life is proving to be very challenging for Charlie Price. That is until he meets Lola, a drag queen whose sparkle and unsteady heels might just hold the answer to saving the struggling business.

Guaranteed to raise you up and celebrate everybody’s individuality, don’t miss Kinky Boots on tour commencing January 2025!

Full casting for Kinky Boots will be announced in due course.

Kinky Boots The Musical was a Broadway and West End phenomenon based on a true story and movie of the same name released in 2005.

Kinky Boots is directed by Nikolai Foster with choreography by Leah Hill, set and costume design by Robert Jones, musical supervision by George Dyer, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Adam Fisher, casting by Harry Blumenau CDG CDA, wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates with associate direction by Michaela Powell, associate choreography by Johnny Bishop, associate sound design by Harry Barker and production management by Setting Line.

On the Web:

Stockton Globe

https://www.stocktonglobe.co.uk/ 

Facebook: /TheGlobeStockton

Instagram: @stockton_globe

X/Twitter: @stockton_globe

TikTok: @stocktonglobe

Kinky Boots

www.kinkybootstour.com 

Facebook: /KinkyBootsUK

Instagram: KINKYBOOTS_UK

X: KINKYBOOTS_UK

TikTok: Kinkyboots_uk

Creatives:

Book by Harvey Fierstein

Music And Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper

Original Broadway Production Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell

Based on the Miramax motion picture Kinky Boots

Written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth

Kinky Boots  is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International

www.mtishows.co.uk 

Tickets:

Kinky Boots heads to Stockton Globe from Tuesday 29th April – Saturday 3rd May 2025 and are available now from our affiliates ATG Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/StocktonKinkyboots

Please note: Johannes Radebe will not be performing in the midweek matinees on Wednesday 30th April and Thursday 1st May at Stockton Globe.

REVIEW: Subterranea at Whitley Bay Laurel's Theatre

Subterranea

Whitley Bay Laurel's Theatre

Until Saturday 28 September 2024

A clever play that examines how society behaves made a trip to Whitley Bay very worthwhile.

So imagine it is 2029 and five years has elapsed since Newcastle was hit by a nuclear attack. People were told to take shelter in the underground Metro stations and they are still there. Life has now evolved down there: they work, eat, live sleep down there. A new culture is now the norm as the people work for credits which in turn are used to pay for a small part of a metro carriage to live in and food from a food bank. One night a week they get a chance to dance and socialise but that is it.

We are made aware that there are other people above. The people above seem to be not only in charge but also dictating life underground. Those above are keeping these people in their place. 

Laurels is a small theatre space and setting this performance in such a space helps with the atmosphere. The confines of the haze filled room helps develop an intense feeling of something approaching claustrophobia. We are trapped in there with them squeezed into this place. This is very much a show that benefits from the performance space. Just like The Rooms in 2015 and in 2016  this is a show that benefits from the confines of the performance space and takes full advantage of it. Laurels is really making a name for itself as a friendly venue without being pretentious, and it knows its space well helping it to develop shows like The Club.

The strength of this show is that the audience can totally get behind the cast. Natasha Haws reminded us how great she is as an actor as her Sophie comes across as a strong independently minded individual who is also protective over her family - be it her mother or her other half. Likewise Judi Earl shows that her character Jean can have a strong set of values and work within a system that they find themselves in whilst working in the food bank. Completing the main cast is Adam Donaldson as Charlie - a chap whose circumstances have just changed and he confides he Sophie's mother rather than Sophie herself.

For this show to work the audience have to get behind these three local heroes. They have to accept the situation that they have found themselves in and to want them to escape. Thanks to a combination of writing and careful direction coupled with the performances from, in particular, Natasha Haws, you buy into the tale and everyone involved. The sound also adds to the stress that we all feel in the second act as well as the relief that the music offers.

Subterranea is a clever drama that works well at Laurel's, which in turn is a theatre that is hosting some wonderful theatre, a prices that won't break the bank, and needs to be on the radar of theatre going folk in the North East. 

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Benjamin Michael Smith

Cast & Creatives

Co-Writers - Lucy Curry & Carl Wylie

Co-Directors - Lucy Curry & Paula Penman

Sound Design - Calum Howard

Lighting Design - John Rainsforth

Set Design - Richard Power (The Set Guise)

Stage Manager - Andrea Scrimshaw

Trainee Stage Manager - Ruth Silver

Assistant Producer - Andrew Dawson

Performers - Judi Earl, Natasha Haws, Adam Donaldson

Tickets Full price - £12; Concession - £8

No questions asked - £3 discounted certain shows to be announced: https://www.laurelswhitley.co.uk/theatre 

Age guidance: 14+ advised.

Access:

Captioned Performance: Thursday 19th September 2024

Relaxed Performance: all Saturday Matinees

Wraparound kids club: Saturday 21st September

Location: Laurels Theatre, 212 Whitley Rd, Whitley Bay NE26 2TA

Social:

Facebook: @PeachplantProductions

Twitter: @Peachplant_

Instagram: @peachplantproductions

Running Time: About 2 hours including interval

Content Warnings: Swearing, Pregnancy

REVIEW: & Juliet at Sunderland Empire

 & Juliet

Sunderland Empire

Until Saturday 21 September 2024

& Juliet is an engaging coming-of-age jukebox musical based around the familiar Shakespeare tale, featuring the music of Swedish pop songwriter Max Martin (Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys et al.), with a book by David West Read, has landed in Sunderland for a two week run. The story focuses on a "what if" scenario, in which Juliet does not die at the end of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Packed full of music from this century's most successful composer, Max Martin, this show could simply be yet another jukebox musical that descends into concert  mode, but it steers clear of that pitfall and let's the music describe a refreshing story of empowerment. Clever use of musical motifs help integrate the music into the story, and subtle rewriting of the occasional lyric adds to the humour.

Romeo and Juliet is still studied at schools today. Generations of English teachers trying to justify Bill Shakespeare's Romeo and his actions. The child Juliet  is given few choices and this results in tragic results.  This musical asks: what if she had been an appropriate age to date Romeo? What if she had more of a free mind and free will than Shakespeare was willing to allow? What if she hadn't died and simply put that episode down to experience and got on with the rest of her life, with friends, in Paris? What if Shakespeare's wife had more of a say in the story and gave a female perspective? Thus & Juliet starts from that point. 

Of course this has 2024 sensibilities and ethics. As our teachers reminded us: it wasn't like that back then, those choices were probably not available.  Or that's what we get told.

As a sub-plot we have Anne (Lara Denning) and William (Matt Cardle) exploring their own relationship as they argue over how this rewrite goes.

So Romeo (Jack Danson) is dead. Thus we have a funeral Juliet (Gerardine Sacdalan) is threatened by her mother to be forced to join the nuns. Instead of this, she runs off with her nurse Angelique (Sandra Marvin) and friends May (Jordan Broatch). They seek, and find love in Paris and before you know Oops, she has done it again. This is handy for Lance (Ranj Singh) as he has been pretty desperate to find someone for his son Francois (Kyle Cox). 

This musical is delightful for many reasons: an engaging talented cast playing songs that have been carefully weaved into a plot that sorts out the many issues of the original.  We were also blessed by some of the best lighting and sound design which helped the performers the have impact with their songs. Add in a number of fine solo performers from Juliet, nurse and Anne.

This is a great energetic musical with comic timing and it shifts along at a fair pace. It celebrates life, freedom of choice and the need to give agency to others. That that end it is a celebration and we really enjoyed it.

Review: Stephen Oliver 

On The Web:

Website: www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk

Instagram: @julietmusical

Facebook: @julietmusical                                                       

X: @julietmusical

YouTube: @julietmusical1925  

 

Tickets: 

#ad 

& JULIET will wow Sunderland Empire audiences from Tuesday 10 – Saturday 21 September 2024. Tickets available from: https://prf.hn/l/p3qBvA5  *

*A £3.65 transaction fee applies to online bookings.

Preview: Cluedo 2 at Darlington Hippodrome

 Cast Giving No Clues Away About Who-Dunnit At Darlington Hippodrome

Cluedo 2 

Darlington Hippodrome 

Tuesday 8 - Saturday 12 October 2024

With the week-long run of Cluedo2 coming to Darlington Hippodrome in October, we caught up with two of the cast and the director to get an insight into the board-game come stage play.

For Strictly Come Dancing champion and former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach and ex Heartbeat and Casualty actor Jason Durr, the chance to play Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard in Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter were roles they both simply couldn’t turn down.

 

The two are starring in a major new nationwide UK stage tour which marks the world premiere of this new play, based on the classic Hasbro boardgame and starts at the end of February 2024. Written by BAFTA Award winning writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran (who wrote TV hits including Birds of a Feather and the stage hit Dreamboats and Petticoats) and directed by the award winning Mark Bell, the Cluedo 2 tour will kick off at Richmond Theatre on 29th February and then visit more than 20 venues around the country. 

Ellie Leach

Both actors admit they can’t wait to go on tour. It’s Ellie’s first ever theatre role after she shot to fame playing Faye Windass for 12 years in Coronation Street and then went on to win last year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Meanwhile Jason, who has starred in many TV roles and until recently as Nurse David Hide in Casualty, admits he has long harboured an ambition to return to his theatre roots. 

“This is my first stage play and I am very excited to be playing Miss Scarlett, “ says Ellie ahead of her stage debut. “It is nerve-wracking as it’s something completely different to TV but I really want to push myself out of my comfort zone. A year ago, I would never have expected Strictly, then the Strictly arena tour and now Cluedo 2 to happen. I am so grateful as Miss Scarlett is such an iconic character to play.”

Jason Durr

Adds Jason: “I have done an enormous amount of television but there is nothing quite like performing in front of a live audience and making people laugh. I am looking forward to going back to my roots, acting on stage, and getting my funny bones going again in the form of this rip-roaring comedy. When I read the scripts for the first time, I was in a quiet coach on a train and I started hooting with laughter! A lady told me to be quiet but I couldn’t help but laugh throughout. It’s going to be phenomenal to bring comedy and a classic whodunnit to the stage where the audience get to be the detective.” 

As the actors go on to explain, both their roles have been cleverly reinvented to fit in with the new setting of the play in the rock and roll 1960s – something they are both hugely excited by. “At first, Miss Scarlet seems like butter won’t melt,” reveals Ellie. “She is an interior designer and she seems very unassuming. But as the play develops, well….. people may not be quite what they seem. Cluedo is, after all, a thriller and murder mystery game!”

Like Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard is also hiding secrets, Jason then explains. “We are going to be reinventing the narrative,” says the actor. “Rick Black is a rock star in the play and Mustard is his manager. “Like Elvis had the Colonel, this chap has Mustard! He thinks he knows what he is doing but he doesn’t really.” 

The icing on the cake, admit Ellie and Jason, is the chance to work alongside the show’s critically acclaimed director Mark Bell, who is also the director behind the global hit, The Play That Goes Wrong. Enthuses Jason: “Mark is the past master at mishap and mayhem and he has his finger on the pulse. This is the perfect tonic we need right now in the world we are living in.” 

Mark Bell

Smiling, Mark insists it’s the play’s writers, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who should win all the praise. “I am a minor Viscount compared to their Highnesses,” he jokes before adding: “They are royalty and as soon as I met them, we hit it off. It’s a privilege to be working with them and this great new cast. It’s a new story with new twists and what I love is the fact Cluedo is such an important part of our culture.” 

Indeed, for both the new stars of the play and Mark, the Cluedo boardgame represents such an iconic part of British heritage. It’s one of the reasons, says Mark, why the first Cluedo play proved to be such a big hit in its stage tour in 2022. “I played Cluedo as a child and I think it’s why we had such a fantastic audience response with the first Cluedo stage play,” Mark continues. “People enjoy seeing these characters come to life.” 

 “This isn’t the first time I’ve played Colonel Mustard,” jokes Jason. “I used to play him and the game as a kid. I grew up in Hong Kong and the one game we loved was Cluedo. I’ve introduced it to my children now too.” 

Ellie says she loves how unique the characters are. “Everyone can define who all the characters are,” she continues. “They are very distinctive.”

Determined to throw everything into the new production, all three are working hard behind the scenes to make sure it’s another huge success. Jason says he hopes to be sure to steady his stage nerves whilst Ellie is drawing from her experience performing in front of thousands on her recent Strictly arena UK tour. “All the cast have welcomed me with such open arms,” she says. 

“Thousands came to watch the Strictly tour and it did give me a sense of what it is like to perform in front of a live audience. It’s going to be also amazing to take on this new experience and do something different to TV, which is practically at the other end of the acting scale. Television is very naturalistic and on stage, everything happens a thousand times bigger. But that’s what is so exciting.”

Meanwhile, one of Mark’s goals is to focus on making sure the actors feel relaxed in their verbal and physical delivery of comedic moments ahead of the tour. And so now, with rehearsals underway, he reveals he’s already got a few tricks up his sleeve to make sure the actors don’t feel afraid being silly. “I like to start off each day of rehearsals with a silly game to warm up,” he says. “Putting on a comedy is far harder than a straight play because the comic timings have to look effortless. 

 “The jokes won’t work otherwise. For me, I never get bored of telling stories and structuring jokes so you get laughter. Shared laughter is so important and so one of my favourite improvisations with the actors is to run a pretend job interview. Only it gets sillier and sillier and by the end, they might be tap dancing whilst pretending to be a chicken!” 

For all three, touring around the UK can be tough but each are making sure to balance family life and other work commitments. With other projects also on the go, Mark explains he tries to visit different cities hosting the play every fortnight whilst both Ellie and Jason reveal they are planning to bring their families along to watch. “It’s never great leaving home but you make it work,” admits Jason. “My wife and children will definitely be coming to watch. It will be a chance for us to have a giggle. I think I look rather fetching in yellow!” 

Adds Ellie: “My family can’t wait to come and watch me in this show. Obviously after going on tour with Strictly, I have now had experience of living out of a suitcase and what is great about this show is I am going to be going back to acting again.  I was known for many years as Faye Windass and as amazing as that was, it was then nice for people to find out more about me and my personality on Strictly. Now it’s going to be great to transform myself into a new character. I love how Cluedo 2 is perfect for everyone in the family and it is lovely how, thanks partly now to The Traitors too, people really enjoy murder mysteries!

“When I spoke to Mark about how the play felt a bit like The Traitors, he agreed. He said ‘yes, everyone is trying to suss everyone out!’ I can’t wait for everyone to come and watch it.”

What’s particularly exciting for both stars is that 2024 marks a very special landmark for the famous Hasbro boardgame – its 75th birthday.  “To be part of the 75th birthday celebrations is going to be exciting,” admits Jason. “I really hope we will make the audience laugh every time as we bring to life, live action versions of Cluedo’s famous characters on stage.” 

As for what the audience can expect when they watch the new stage version, Mark smiles as he teases: “Cluedo 2 is a really great whodunnit. It’s fast paced, high energy with lots of verbal and visual jokes. This is one for all the family – everyone is going to come out smiling!”

Tickets:

Cluedo 2 runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 October. For more information or to book visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01325 405405. 

Preview: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Celebrating a classic children’s story on stage...

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 

Newcastle Theatre Royal 

Tuesday 25 February – Saturday 1 March 2025

Marking the 75 th anniversary of the publication of C.S.Lewis’ novel and following its celebrated West End run, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, is set to enchant North East audiences when it visits Newcastle Theatre Royal as part of its 2025 UK tour.

Step through the wardrobe into the enchanted kingdom of Narnia. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and embark on the most magical of adventures in a frozen, faraway land where they meet Mr Tumnus the faun, talking beavers, Aslan (the noble king of Narnia) and the coldest, most evil White Witch.

C.S. Lewis’ book was first published in October 1950. Since then, over 85 million copies in 60 languages have been sold, making it one of the top ten best-selling books of all time. The stage adaptation of Lewis’ iconic book enjoyed a hugely successful West End run, loved by audiences and critics alike.

Producer Chris Harper said: ‘We can’t wait for children and adults alike to join us on this spectacular new journey through the wardrobe and are proud to be marking the 75 th anniversary of the publication of CS Lewis’ novel with this tour.’

Director Michael Fentiman added: ‘I’m delighted to be taking our beautiful production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe on a major tour of the UK and Ireland in 2025. The production celebrates the magic of live theatre and is led by a multi-talented cast of actors, singers, musicians, dancers and puppeteers; it is a celebration of the possibilities of the collective imagination and the boundless wonders of individual skill.’

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is directed by Michael Fentiman based on the original production by Sally Cookson. The Set and Costume Designer is Tom Paris, Composers are Barnaby Race and Benji Bower, the Choreographer is Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus, the Lighting Designer is Jack Knowles, the Sound Designer is Tom Marshall, the Puppetry Director is Toby Olié, the Puppetry Designer is Max Humphries, the Aerial Director is Gwen Hales, the Illusionist is Chris Fisher, the Casting Director is Will Burton CDG and the Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Designer is Susanna Peretz.

Casting for the 2025 UK tour is still to be announced.

Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Tickets:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tuesday 25 February – Saturday 1 March 2025. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

News: Trick Or Treat On The Tyne!

Trick Or Treat On The Tyne! 

Special guests read ghost stories on stage at Newcastle Live Theatre before Saint Maud in the run up to Halloween

In the run up to Halloween, Stephen Tompkinson and other special guests will read previously unheard ghost stories by top level North East writers including Eliza Clark, Benjamin Myers, Matt Wesolowski and David Almond as curtain raisers to Live Theatre’s highly anticipated production of Saint Maud.

Kicking off the series on Saturday 19 October, acclaimed actor Stephen Tompkinson will read visionary playwright David Rudkin’s short story The Keeper about a mysterious presence haunting a lighthouse.

On Tuesday 22 October cult author Eliza Clark (Boy Parts, Penance) will read an exclusive story from her highly anticipated upcoming collection She’s Always Hungry.

On Wednesday 23 October North East award winner Benjamin Myers’ (Cuddy, The Offing, The Gallows Pole) chilling tale Blue Knickers will be read by actress and writer Samantha Neale.

On Thursday 24 October, great North East chronicler David Almond (Skellig) will take to the stage and read his own brand new ghost story Sinclair’s Hell.

On Friday 25 October horror novelist Matt Wesolowski (Hydra, Deity, Beast, Demon) shares a brand new skin crawling tale Pretendy-Mammy.

Eliza Clark, Stephen Tompkinson, David Almont and Sam Neale

Horror phenomenon Saint Maud tells the story of a young devout nurse who becomes increasingly obsessed with saving the soul of a former dancer in the final days of her life.

Artistic Director Jack McNamara said: “There’s a growing buzz around our production of Saint Maud so it’s great to be able to invite this roster of talent to come and celebrate it with us, by spooking our audience silly right before the show. These stories have never been heard before and will probably never be heard again. We hope to address the injustice of only children receiving treats at Halloween, by giving each audience something unique and delicious on different nights.”

Each story is read onstage right before the show at 7.30pm and is free with a Saint Maud ticket for the specific date of each reading.

Tickets

To find our more and book for Saint Maud go to www.live.org.uk or call Box Office on 0191 232 1232.

Saturday 19 October - The Keeper by David Rudkin read by Stephen Tompkinson

Tuesday 22 October - She’s Always Hungry by Eliza Clark read by the author

Wednesday 23 October - Blue Knickers by Benjamin Myers read by Samantha Neale 

Thursday 24 October - Sinclair’s Hell by David Almond read by the author

Friday 25 October - Pretendy-Mammy by Matt Wesolowski read by the author

Thursday 10 October – Saturday 2 November 2024 Saint Maud

News: Empire Consett to reopen to public

Empire Consett to reopen to public

The stage is set for Empire Consett to reopen next week following the completion of remedial works. 

The County Durham venue, which closed its doors to the public temporarily in February to allow for essential roof works, will reopen on Friday 13 September. 

Visitors will be able to enjoy the venue’s café, Empire Lounge, from 10am to 3pm, alongside showings of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in the cinema. 

Tickets for the Tim Burton sequel starring Michael Keaton are available for just £5, with five tickets for £20 also on offer including a maximum of three adults. 

The film will also be available to parents and guardians with babies under one, with the return of Bringing in Baby, the venue’s baby-friendly screenings, on Tuesday 17 September at 10.30am. 

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We’re so pleased to see Empire Consett reopening to the public. The venue has been providing entertainment to theatregoers and cinema lovers for over 100 years. Following the completion of these essential works, it will continue to provide top quality shows and performances for many years to come, further enhancing our reputation as the Culture County. Visitors can now look forward to an exciting line up of entertainment this autumn in a comfortable and safe venue and we look forward to welcoming guests back.” 

The first theatre production to be staged following the reopening will be CBS Theatre Group’s The Full Monty which runs from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 October.

Empire Consett will then host a programme of live music, theatre, ballet and comedy throughout its autumn season which also sees the return of Leah Bell in the venue’s 2024 pantomime, Cinderella, starring Coronation Street’s Kevin Kennedy and Benidorm’s Crissy Rock. 

Once reopened, the venue will open 10am to 3pm from Tuesday to Saturday, with later opening times for cinema screenings and theatre performances. 

To find out more about the upcoming theatre and cinema programme and to book online, visit www.empireconsett.co.uk

REVIEW: Heathers the Musical at Theatre Royal Newcastle

Heathers The Musical

Theatre Royal Newcastle

Until Saturday 7 September 2024

A hard-working and talented cast bring energy and lots of style to a darkly satirical but very funny musical interpretation of this classic teen movie. 

Sedona Sky, Esme Bowdler and Daisy Twells 

Conceived by Daniel Waters as an antidote to the optimistic teen movies of John Hughes and his contemporaries, and aided by a stellar cast including Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty, the 1989 movie has been an enduring hit, for its wit and dark humour. This musical version was developed in 2014 by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. 

Keelan McAuley with Jenna Innes 

Parallels are sure to be drawn with the 2004 film and 2017 musical, Mean Girls, as both tell the story of an unpopular high school girl, being drawn into a clique of popular but vicious girls, and ultimately turning against them. However, unlike the later film, Heathers is very definitely an adults-only story, dealing graphically with subjects like murder, teenage suicide, date rape and closet homosexuality.

Amy Miles and Jenna Innes

You could be forgiven for thinking that these are topics that could not be woven into an amusing and highly entertaining musical. The fact that this has been achieved is very largely a matter of style. The writers understand the tropes of teen comedy and subvert them with real wit and invention. They bring a cleverly light touch to the macabre subject matter and the strong score carries it all along.

Esme Bowdler, Jenna Innes, Sedona Sky and Daisy Twell

The award-winning director, Andy Fickman, has a long history with the show and, clearly, understands the brief. Add to this, Gary Lloyd’s snappy choreography, David Shields’ inspired designs capturing the period, plus a top-notch cast and you have an evening that delivers so much fun that the audience only occasionally stops and asks, “What the heck am I watching?”

The plot involves nerdy Veronica Sawyer becoming attached to a group of three girls called Heather, who rule the roost at her Ohio high school under the dominance of the ruthless Heather Chandler. They adopt her because of her skill at forging documents, letters etc. and she wants their patronage to help her survive high school.

To do this she abandons her best friend, the terminally uncool Martha, under orders from Heather Chandler, using her talents to set her up for a vicious practical joke. 

Meanwhile, a mysterious boy, JD, has been observing Veronica’s behaviour and efficiently dispenses with an attempted attack by the two resident football heroes, and mindless bullies, Kurt and Ram. Veronica is fascinated and he sets out to woo her in his alternative, off-beat style.

When Veronica rebels against Heather Chandlers’ tyranny and is condemned to be an outcast within the school, JD contrives with Veronica to get her revenge, and a chain of very sinister events begins to unfold until she breaks his hold on her and sets out to foil his sociopathic last hurrah. Along the way, there are some hilarious set pieces and a deal of clever doubling and trebling of parts by this talented cast.

Jenna Innes gives an assured performance as Veronica, with intelligent, engaging characterisation and an impressively powerful high-belt vocal delivery. Keelan McAuley as JD is a revelation; charismatic and nuanced in his acting and with a voice that is effortless and smooth as silk, through his whole register.

Esme Bowdler gives the monstrous Heather Chandler full value and Daisy Twells and understudy Jasmine Cole (at this performance) give strong support as the other two Heathers. Jason Battersby and Iván Fernández González are also funny and engaging as the clueless jocks.

Other highlights were Conor McFarlane’s and Alexander Service’s wildly funny duet that opens Act 2, Lucy Sinclair, somehow reminiscent of Jennifer Aniston in the crowd-pleasing Shine a Light and Amy Miles’ touching and beautifully sung Kindergarten Boyfriend.

All in all, this is a thoroughly entertaining show, if not for the easily offended, and it brought this packed Theatre Royal audience easily to their feet.

Review: Jonathan Cash

Photos: Pamela Raith Photography 

Tickets:

Heathers the Musical plays Newcastle Theatre Royal, Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 Sep 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.