There is something reassuring about walking into a theatre knowing that within minutes an audience will be singing along to songs they have known for decades. Yet Jersey Boys offers far more than a nostalgic trip through a greatest-hits collection. Twenty years after it first opened on Broadway, the musical continues to demonstrate why the story behind Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is every bit as compelling as the music they created.
At the Palace Theatre in Manchester, the 20th-anniversary gala performance delivers the familiar songs alongside the less glamorous side of life in the spotlight. This isn’t a story where success simply arrives and everything falls neatly into place. It is about four young men chasing a dream, the relationships that suffer along the way, financial problems, personal betrayals, and the tensions that eventually threaten to tear the group apart. The songs may be instantly recognisable, but it is the human story underneath them that gives Jersey Boys its emotional weight.
Directed by Des McAnuff, with choreography by Sergio Trujillo, this production strikes an excellent balance between storytelling and entertainment. It moves at a terrific pace, taking us through the formation and rise of The Four Seasons while showing the very real pressures that come with fame and success.
Luke Baker is outstanding as Frankie Valli. Recreating that extraordinary voice is no easy task, particularly Valli’s distinctive high register and falsetto, but Baker sings with remarkable accuracy. His tone, pitch and vocal control are exceptional, and there are moments when you could close your eyes and believe you were listening to the real Frankie Valli. He doesn’t simply imitate Valli; he captures his character and vulnerability too, making him a thoroughly convincing Frankie.
Carlo Boumouglbay brings plenty of attitude and charisma to Tommy DeVito, while Lewis Kennedy gives Nick Massi a strong and understated presence. Toby Miles is excellent as Bob Gaudio, portraying the talented songwriter whose musical contribution was so important to the group’s success. Together, the four leads have terrific chemistry and make a convincing quartet.
And then, of course, there is the music. This is where Jersey Boys really comes alive. With songs including ‘Sherry’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Walk Like a Man’, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, ‘Beggin’ and ‘Oh, What a Night’, the production is packed with familiar numbers that have become part of popular culture.
The music is lively, energetic and wonderfully nostalgic, but it never feels dated. The live band, under the direction of Musical Director Lauren Ronan, is simply stunning. The musicians provide an exceptional soundtrack throughout the evening, capturing the character and energy of the original recordings while giving the performance its own sense of excitement.
Huge credit must go to choreographer Sergio Trujillo. The dancing is visually superb, with an incredible level of synchronisation and energy. The four leads appear to dance almost non-stop, yet somehow maintain the vocal demands of the show at the same time. It is an impressive physical performance and adds enormously to the spectacle.
Jess Goldstein’s costume design is equally impressive. The costumes help establish the different periods and characters while adding colour and visual style to the production. The lighting works beautifully alongside them, enhancing both the performances and the numerous seamless scene changes.
What particularly struck me was how successfully Jersey Boys crosses generations. My 18-year-old daughter had never seen the musical before, yet she absolutely loved it. More impressively, she recognised a surprising number of the songs. That says everything about the lasting appeal of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Music created decades ago continues to be discovered and enjoyed by a new generation.
Frankie Valli himself remains a hugely significant figure in music, while Bob Gaudio is also still with us. Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi have sadly passed away, but the music they helped create has outlived them all. The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, while Jersey Boys itself became a major theatrical success, winning four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
The reaction inside the Palace Theatre made it abundantly clear just how much the audience loved this production. Applause regularly erupted following the most recognisable songs, and by the finale the audience was on its feet, delivering a huge and deserved standing ovation.
Twenty years after Jersey Boys first burst onto Broadway, its appeal is as strong as ever. This is far more than a collection of hit songs held together by a convenient storyline. It is a fascinating story of friendship, ambition, love, betrayal, success and ultimately reconciliation, brought to life by an exceptionally talented cast and musicians.
Energetic, nostalgic, funny, moving and packed with songs that refuse to disappear, Jersey Boys is a crowd-pleasing night at the theatre and a fitting celebration of a musical legacy that continues to live on.
The Manchester run continues at the Palace Theatre until Saturday 19th September 2026, before moving to Hull New Theatre from 28th September to 3rd October. Tickets are available through ATG Tickets. Whether you remember these songs from the first time around or are discovering them for the first time, Jersey Boys is timeless, hugely entertaining and a show I would recommend to every generation.
Reviewer: Katie Leicester
Reviewed: 8th September 2026
North West End UK Rating: