It is always a challenge when putting a loved classic on stage – although this iconic film feels like it premiered yesterday, it was released in 2004! It is no wonder then that so many in the audience were hit with nostalgia, as the familiar and well-loved characters were brought to life on stage and with song. The story was revisited in film format in 2024, demonstrating that its themes remain as relevant today as they were two decades ago and continue to resonate with a new generation of Mean Girls fan.
The musical, based on the book by Tina Fey, follows Cady Heron (Emily Lane), a teenager who is home-schooled in Kenya but wants to experience life with other teenagers. Moving with her mum (Jennifer Ellison) to Illinois, Cady navigates the hierarchy of other students at North Shore High School. One of the fascinating elements of this plot is seeing the other teenagers through the eyes of Cady and how she relates them to the animals in Africa – including the Apex Predator, Regina George (Vivian Panka).
When Cady meets Janis (Georgie Buckland) and Damian (Max Gill), two other students, they hatch a plan to bring down Regina George’s ‘reign’ as slowly Cady becomes a part of her gang. However, taking down this ‘queen bee’ comes with serious consequences and we see Cady learn valuable lessons about both friendship and love.
These iconic characters are brought vividly to life, with strong vocals doing justice to the show’s memorable score. Although the two main characters Cady and Regina naturally shine, it is arguably the four friends – Karen (Sophie Pourret), Gretchen (Kiara Dario), Janis and Damian – that centre the piece so well and give it the heart it needs. Their smaller character moments showcase beautifully the three-dimensional aspect of this musical, demonstrating that we all know people like the ones we see on stage. Karen’s ‘Sexy’ song was a highlight, with her comic timing bringing the house down, as was Damian’s classic line, ‘She doesn’t even go here!’ It would be great to see more of this comic timing being brought out within this production. Alongside this, Liverpool’s own Jennifer Ellison plays three different characters flawlessly, adding in her own twist to the two mums and the teacher, Ms Norbury. Not an easy feat, particularly in terms of moving swiftly from one character to the next.
The original film is set in the 2000’s and this musical brings out features of that time including photocopying the ‘Burn Book.’ Yet it could have been a good opportunity to bring the piece up to date further through the use of screens and sharing on social media like the 2024 film does. The production feels a little set back in time, which does bring out the nostalgia, but feels like a missed opportunity. The set was simple and effective, but could have benefitted from some further embellishment to lift it and make it more even more engaging.
The choreography was effective and suited the production, although at times could have been a little more enhanced and polished. However, some great moments included the lunch trays being used as cheerleading pom-poms and the actor’s ability to move the set on and off within the choreography.
There were some sound balance issues with a couple of singers quieter than others, but being opening night it is hoped this would be corrected moving forward. The music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin are captivating, with songs that stand out and capture the mood of each scene.
Although it does not quite live up to some of the hype surrounding it and could benefit from a little more polish in certain areas, Mean Girls remains a fun and energetic production. Packed with nostalgia, memorable songs and plenty of laughs, it offers an enjoyable evening of musical theatre for both long-time fans of the film and newcomers alike
Mean Girls runs from Monday 19th October to Saturday 31st October 2026.
Reviewer: Beth Easton
Reviewed: 19th October 2026
North West End UK Rating: