Pamela Raith Photography
Here & Now is a brand-new jukebox musical packed with some of the biggest and most nostalgic hits made famous by Steps. Rather than retelling the pop group’s story, the show cleverly builds an original narrative around the music, focusing on the everyday lives of a group of shop workers at a bargain discount store called Better Best Bargains. It’s an unexpectedly relatable setting from fluorescent lighting to discount bins and it quickly becomes the foundation for a funny, heartfelt story about the friendships and found families we form at work.
The plot follows several employees as they navigate their dreams, romantic anxieties and personal ambitions. Through witty dialogue and musical numbers, we watch them confide in each other about everything from love and heartbreak to career goals and figuring out who they really are. One of the show’s strongest themes is how meaningful workplace relationships can be. These are often the people we spend the most time with, sometimes more than our families or chosen friends, and the musical captures that beautifully. The diversity of the ensemble reflects a real modern workplace: different ages, backgrounds, cultures, sexualities and identities all thrown together, learning to support one another while trying to keep the shop running.
The staging is a standout highlight. The set design transforms the stage into a fully believable discount shop, complete with checkout tills, stacked shelving and product displays. It’s so detailed that at points you almost forget you’re watching a musical at all, it feels like a live sitcom unfolding in front of you. The clever staging extends to transitions as well, with tannoy announcements and playful retail adverts between scenes, reminding the audience we’re still inside Better Best Bargains. It adds an extra layer of humour and keeps the energy flowing.
Costumes are equally strong. The ensemble moves seamlessly between everyday shop uniforms and full pop-fantasy glamour. A particularly hilarious moment is River Medway’s dramatic entrance as Jem during Chain Reaction, emerging in full glitz straight out of the freezer, a visual gag that had the audience roaring with laughter.
Of course, the real joy of the show is hearing Steps’ hits: 5, 6, 7, 8, Tragedy, Chain Reaction and more, cleverly woven into the narrative. The songs land as both nostalgic crowd-pleasers and storytelling moments.
Overall, Here & Now is a heart-warming, cheesy, irresistibly fun night out. Whether you’re a devoted Steps fan or don’t know the moves to Tragedy, you’ll leave smiling, and maybe even heading straight to the nearest bargain shop on your way home.
Here & Now: The Steps Musical runs until 9th November at the New Wimbledon Theatre, with tickets available at https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb
Reviewer: Zain Russell
Reviewed: 4th November 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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