Based on the cult film from 1989, Heathers the Musical has returned to London ahead of a wider UK tour. Dealing with teen mental health and the pressures of high school, the show is billed as the ‘darker, dirtier cousin’ of High School Musical. However, it’s much more of a precursor to Mean Girls, with three popular girls, all called Heather, transforming Veronica (Gerardine Sacdalan) from likeable nerd into a member of their clique, until she realises the mistake she’s made. In Heathers, however, her revenge takes the form of murder staged to look like suicide, encouraged by her angst-ridden boyfriend, JD (Louis Hearsey).
Awash with examples of toxic males and females, the musical attempts to inject some humour into its gritty subject by turning the characters into caricatures. Fathers who expect their sons to turn out like them, jocks who bully everyone they don’t want to sleep with, and girls who only care about being pretty and popular are all dialled up to maximum, while Veronica cracks jokes and cheesy smiles as she gets pulled further into JD’s plans, trying to convince us that this story isn’t really as dark as it seems. For most characters, individual personality is only achieved after death, their fake suicide notes giving them more depth than they ever showed in life.
Gerardine Sacdalan is a strong leading lady, torn between her desire to be one of the Heathers and her feelings for JD. Why she falls for him in the first place is a bit of a mystery, dealt with in a rapid scene where JD displays very little charisma. As their relationship grows, however, the chemistry between them develops, forming a mutually destructive bond that drives the story onwards.
Liberty Stottor as Heather Chandler, leader of the group is the quintessential high school queen bee, her vocals as impressive as the chip on her shoulder. Heather McNamara (Lou Henry) is the ditsy cheerleader that gets a few laughs, until a late admission of mental health issues turns her into a better person. Jessica Ibadin as Heather Duke was a weak link in an otherwise strong cast. She didn’t seem to have as good a handle on her character as all of the others and her transformation into queen bee after the death of Heather Chandler didn’t ring true. The two jocks, Ram (Beau Jackson) and Kurt (Markus Sodergren) are the clowns of the piece, cavorting around David Shield’s high school set with entertaining physicality, distracting us from just how unpleasant their characters really are.
The musical has now formed its own cult following, having been in the West End and on tour several times over the past few years. Although it lacks the real darkness that made the film so memorable, it’s still an interesting change from the fluffier takes on high school life that became so prevalent in the 90s and 00s. With several catchy songs, some well-choreographed dance numbers and memorable performances, it’s sure to continue being a crowd-pleaser.
Heathers the Musical is currently running at The Arts at Marble Arch till the 22nd of August. Tickets are available here: https://www.artsatmarblearch.com /
Reviewer: Charlotte Mansfield
Reviewed: 13th July 2026
North West End UK Rating: