Mean Girls – Winter Gardens Blackpool

Mean Girls the Musical is a sensational, high-energy production that delivers everything you could hope for in a modern day musical, with its sharp humour, outstanding performances and visual style, it radiates energy from start to finish, creating a relatable story that audiences can connect with. This is a show that feels both fresh and faithful to the original story, and the Winter Gardens provides the perfect backdrop for such a vibrant, fast‑paced production it’s rare to see a production that balances comedy, heart and contemporary storytelling so seamlessly, but this one achieves it with style.

One of the standout strengths of this production is the cast, who bring enormous personality and precision to every moment. Vivian Panka commands the stage as Regina George with a remarkable prowess. Her effortless confidence and razor-sharp delivery gives Regina the perfect mean girl look. Cady Heron’s journey is portrayed by Emily Lane with warmth, humour, vulnerability and a genuine emotional arc that many audience members can relate to. Not forgetting the other two members of the Plastics, Grethen Wieners and Karen Smith, portrayed by Khiara Dario and Sophie Pourret. These two ladies are loyal and impressionable sidekicks who are both incredibly funny but also stereotypical mean girls, despite their ditziness. Dario and Pourret bring them to life so perfectly on the stage and embody the characters so well it puts audience in stitches. Georgie Buckland and Michael Dean-Wilson had standout performances as Janis Sarkistand and Damien Hubbard. Their clever narration, well-timed comedic moments and strong vocals really told the story well, provide heart to the performance. Dean-Wilson, who was on as the understudy for Damien was really impressive, his energy was unmatched and he really made the character his own. His performance shone throughout.

A big shoutout to all the understudies and swings who were on for the opening performance, as without them, this show would not happen.

The set design for Mean Girls is very impressive. There is not a lot, and it is simplistic but is so effective. Using bold colours and smooth transitions, scenes shift seamlessly between classrooms, hallways, bedrooms and cafeterias, creating a sense of movement that keeps everything lively and modern. It really is masterful work. The chairography used to switch between the different classes is something I found really memorable and really effective. The set feels immersive but not overwhelming and is full of personality, which perfectly matches the tone of the show. Add to this some brilliant lighting displays and this really is a technical masterpiece.

The choreography used in the show is brilliant, every routine is dynamic and packed with attitude to perfectly match the meaning of each scene. Each cast member moves with precision and confidence, blending the modern influenced movement with the theatrical storytelling, which feels fresh and exciting. The tight formations and use of props during high-energy group numbers shows the brilliance of the choreographer. The cast moves as a unit and it’s really great to see such a closeness between them all.

Musically, the show is outstanding. The score is performed brilliantly by both musicians and cast, with strong vocals, tight harmonies and the live band, the soundtrack is brought to life beautifully. Songs like ‘Cautionary Tale’ ‘World Burn’ and ‘I’d Rather Be Me’ are delivered with such clarity and emotion, you can’t help but cheer at the end. Every moment feels polished and purposeful, yet vulnerably and emotional in all the right places. There is a beautiful balance between vocals and instrumentation, that allows both cast and band to shine without any overshadowing.

The only downside to the performance was a couple of technical issues with the mics, but this did not take away from the performance in any way and can be looked over as first performance nerves.

Overall, Mean Girls at the Blackpool Winter Gardens is a flawless feel-good production that blends comedy, heart and modern theatrical flair. With exceptional cast performances, modern visuals, charismatic choreography, and an outstanding musical score, it’s a five-star experience from start to finish. It’s an unmissable show with a message that all audiences will take home to remember.

Mean Girls is showing at the Blackpool Winter Gardens until Saturday 22^nd August. Tickets can be bought at this link: Mean Girls – Online shop

Reviewer: Abigail Pendlebury

Reviewed: 18th August 2026

North West End UK Rating: