REVIEW: HEATHERS THE MUSICAL
A true West End show, right on our doorstep.
I’ve seen a lot of theatre in Peterborough over the years, so I don’t say this lightly: Heathers The Musical might just be the best show I’ve seen on a Peterborough stage.
From the moment it begins, everything about this production screams professional. This is the kind of show you’d happily travel to London and pay considerably more to see – except, thankfully, this week you don’t have to.
Based on the cult 1980s movie, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer as she navigates the brutal social hierarchy of Westerberg High, falling in with the school’s most powerful clique – three girls all conveniently named Heather – before a relationship with mysterious new boy JD sends things in a considerably darker direction.
And dark it certainly gets.
But it’s also wickedly funny, ridiculously energetic and packed with songs that have absolutely no right being as catchy as they are.
On stage, everything just works. The acting is superb, the vocals are fantastic and the live musicians are phenomenal. The cast bounce off one another brilliantly, the comedy lands and the darker moments hit when they need to. Everything blends together into one incredibly slick production.
But strangely enough, one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed the night so much wasn’t actually on the stage.
It was sitting all around me.
Thanks to the original film gaining cult status and the musical finding a whole new generation of fans – helped by its streaming version reaching a much wider audience – Heathers seems to attract one of the most wonderfully eclectic theatre crowds I’ve encountered.
There were people of all ages, some dressed for a regular night at the theatre and others very clearly showing their allegiance to Westerberg High. The enthusiasm in the room was infectious.
And that atmosphere elevated an already brilliant show into something that felt genuinely special.
By the finale, the entire theatre was buzzing, and the cast received the standing ovation they thoroughly deserved.
The only downside?
Several of the songs have been living rent-free in my head ever since - and more than a few have now found their way onto my playlist.
I don’t throw this kind of praise around lightly, but Heathers The Musical really is exceptional. Funny, dark, energetic, brilliantly performed and about as close to a West End experience as you could hope to get without buying a train ticket.
Do yourself a favour and get tickets while you still can.
Mike Clarke
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