Review of Now That’s What I Call A Musical at Norwich Theatre Royal: Jukebox musical featuring EastEnder Nina Wadia and Melissa Jacques is pacey and life-affirming
Now That’s What I Call A Musical - Theatre Royal, Norwich
This new jukebox musical, directed and choreographed by Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood, forms the soundtrack to most 50-somethings’ teenage years.
Hit after hit is belted out including Gold, Tainted Love, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Hey Mickey, and Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves and you can’t help but recall what you were doing when the songs were in the charts!
But what of the show? It’s a pacey, life-affirming production with much to enjoy.
Set in Birmingham in 1989, it tells of two school friends, Gemma and April, who have big plans for the rest of their lives as they dream of snogging Rick Astley and becoming Hollywood stars.
And then it’s fast forward to 2009 and that most tricky of events - the school reunion.
EastEnder Nina Wadia and West End favourite Melissa Jacques star as the best mates, with lovely performances by Nikita Johal and Maia Hawkins as their younger selves.
80s pop icon Sinitta makes a very glittering appearance and almost steals the show with her hit So Macho, and I very much enjoyed Chris Grahamson as Tim, the ‘loadsa money’ dodgy husband.
It’s a fun, funny show which is unashamedly nostalgic and you’ll simply love hearing all those bangers from yesteryear!
The show runs until Saturday. Visit www.norwichtheatre.org.
Review by Sarah Hardy