‘A wedding, a bridal shop and a whole lot of country-pop fun.’
Forget the traditional wedding bells — Achy Breaky Bride brings guitars, sequins, family drama and plenty of chaos to the Theatre Royal St Helens in a lively comedy that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Starring Merseyside favourite Leanne Campbell as Jolene, alongside X Factor star David Heath, Rachel Wood, Conor Barrie and Liverpool drag queen Sania Pain, the production brings together a colourful cast who clearly relish the opportunity to have some fun.
Set inside a bridal shop in St Helens, the story follows the increasingly complicated events surrounding a bride-to-be as wedding plans begin to go spectacularly off course. Throw in family tensions, romance, misunderstandings and a generous helping of musical madness and you’ve got all the ingredients for an entertaining night out.
It’s fair to say that Achy Breaky Bride isn’t taking itself too seriously — and nor should the audience. The comedy is deliberately larger than life, with plenty of silly situations, quick one-liners and characters who seem to grow more outrageous as the evening progresses.
The cast throw themselves into the action, and that sense of enjoyment comes across from the stage. Leanne Campbell brings both comedy and warmth to Jolene, helping to give the story a genuine emotional centre amongst all the craziness. The relationships between the characters provide some lovely moments, particularly when the comedy gives way to the show’s more heartfelt scenes.
There are plenty of laughs from the supporting cast too, with some characters regularly stealing the spotlight. The comic timing is particularly effective, and the audience at the Theatre Royal is never shy when it comes to showing its appreciation.
Musically, the production sticks firmly to its country-pop roots. There are upbeat numbers, plenty of rhythm and lots of opportunities for the audience to get involved. The songs help maintain the pace of the show and add another layer of entertainment without ever taking away from the comedy.
The production design also embraces the theme. With wedding dresses, colourful costumes, sequins, boots and plenty of sparkle, the stage becomes exactly the sort of wonderfully chaotic bridal world you’d expect.But perhaps the biggest success of Achy Breaky Bride is the atmosphere it creates.
This is very much a “let’s all have a good time” kind of show. The atmosphere inside the Theatre Royal feels warm and relaxed, with the cast and audience seemingly having just as much fun as each other.
There are no pretensions here. Achy Breaky Bride isn’t trying to be a serious piece of theatre or make some grand statement. Instead, it delivers exactly what it promises: comedy, music, romance, larger-than-life characters and a wedding that seems determined to go anything but smoothly, sometimes that’s all you need.
By the time the curtain falls, there’s a definite feel-good quality to the evening. It’s the sort of production that sends you out of the theatre with a smile, a few songs stuck in your head and the feeling that you’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable night.
Fun, funny and packed with country-pop energy, Achy Breaky Bride is a cheerful night at the Theatre Royal St Helens. If you’re after something light-hearted, entertaining and guaranteed to provide plenty of laughs, this wedding is well worth RSVPing to.
Reviewer: Kevin Eccleston
Reviewed: 24th September 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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