Girls Night by Louise Roche and directed by Helen Roberts is a night of laughter, music and emotions. Five friends meet up for a night at a karaoke night club to celebrate the present, they reminisce about the past and secrets are revealed.
Sharon (Becky Harton) died young and acts as the ghostly narrator with angel wings filling in the details about her four closet friends and their lives. Twenty years after her death her four friends gather at the karaoke night club to celebrate the engagement of Sharon’s daughter Candy-Rose. Sharon speaks directly to the audience about how she has watched over her friends and gets the audience involved in singing along. Anita (Tia Gill) was picked on at school because of her depressive episodes, but her friends never discussed this with her, Tia Gill plays this part beautifully. Carol (Nicky Brown) who is the party girl and the most confident but is hiding so much grief and she was Sharon’s best friend. Kate (Danielle Vernon) is Carol’s younger sister who is acting out of character all night and they can’t quite figure out why. Liza (Joanna Barker) is married, and her husband loves her, but she can’t quite bring herself to love him back. Using flashbacks enables Sharon to fill in her friends back stories and helps us understand the emotions they are feeling.
Girls Night touches on grief, depression, parents divorcing and unwanted pregnancies along with all the classic karaoke songs opening with ‘Young Hearts Run Free’, we also hear ‘I Will Survive’, ‘Dancing Queen’ and Its ‘Raining Men’.
Girls Night ends with the mostly female audience up dancing and singing along to ‘Dancing Queen’ and its ‘Raining Men’.
The set and use of props was minimal but were used in a resourceful way and we were always aware when the flashback scenes were taking place. The excellent use of lighting (David Molley) helped create the nightclub scenes and poignant moments.
Side Dish Productions is a new community theatre company run by Helen Roberts who is looking to provide entertainment through plays and musicals but moving away from the familiar offerings. This production of Girls Night was heartfelt, full of fun, and had some great songs. I look forward to seeing more productions from Side Dish Productions.
Verdict: Laughter, Music and Memories
Reviewer: Ann Smith
Reviewed: 29th January 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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