Now That’s What I Call a Musical – Hull New Theatre

Set in Birmingham, the Brummy tones in this new musical were a joy to listen to.

Now That’s What I Call a Musical, written by Pippa Evans and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, of Strictly Come Dancing fame, charts the lives of two best school friends, whose loves, hopes, dreams (shattered or otherwise) are played out to some of the greatest pop hits of the 1980s.

It’s 1989, and April (Maia Hawkins) and Gemma (Nikita Johal) are typical schoolgirls – April is blonde, bubbly and dreams of stardom in Hollywood.

Her bestie, the shorter, dark-haired Gemma, dreams only of marriage and having kids.

Gemma’s family are a scream – that accent again. Dad (Christopher Glover) works in a car factory, while Mum (Poppy Tierney), seems to spend her time laying the kitchen table.

Their son, Frank (Luke Latchman) has big ideas financially but, meanwhile, is just an annoying brother to Gemma.

The girls’ classmate, Barney (Matthew Mori), also has hopes and dreams – of kissing Gemma. But can Gemma (or us, for that matter) ever un-see the sight of him putting on a strip-o-gram show just for her, as she celebrated her engagement to a young man called Tim (Kieran Cooper)?

April, meanwhile, has booked her one-way ticket to Hollywood and, as a parting gift, presents Gemma with a duvet cover adorned with the face of Gemma’s favourite singer, 80s pop icon, Sinitta.

Fast forward 20 years and it’s the dreaded school reunion for the Class of ’89.

Now married to Tim (the older, played by Chris Grahamson), the grown-up Gemma (Nina Wadia), hasn’t heard from her old chum, April, for eight years and has come to terms with the fact her buddy’s Hollywood dreams must have come true.

To my mind, reunions of any sort are never a good idea and the Class of ’89’s was no exception.

The grown-up Frank (Shakil Hussain), turns up looking very smart and businesslike. Still seeking riches, he is now into promoting Segways (remember them?).

Gemma’s life had turned out totally the opposite to how she had dreamed it to be; however, she is now a well-respected nurse whom her parents are very proud of.

Barney is still carrying a torch for Gemma – which proves very interesting later in the show.

The appearance of the older and wiser April (Sam Bailey) at the reunion marks the catalyst for dramatic scenes in which friendships are tested, a shocking secret is spilled, a love rat is caught red-handed, a marriage crumbles and hilarious drunken shenanigans abound. And for some, true love conquers all.

There is never a dull moment in this comedic musical and all the while the most unforgettable 80s hits are churned out; all sung, I might add, with the most tuneful voices from everyone concerned.

The 80s is not my favourite, music-wise, but I happily sang along to hits such as Gold, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Tainted Love, Hey Mickey and Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves to name just a few.

Musical director, Keys 1, Georgia Rawlins, and her musicians certainly did justice to the above tunes.

The stage setting seamlessly changed from young Gemma’s home, April’s Hollywood bedroom, a Birmingham back-drop, a pub and Gemma’s marital home. Plus, the best thing ever – a video rental shop. Blockbusters we miss you.

And the stage itself was surrounded by images of ghetto blasters – those eardrum-shattering monsters proudly carried shoulder-high by many young men in the 80s.

The costumes were nothing special and didn’t need to be – school uniforms led on to jeans, tops, suits and so on.

The energetic cast (too numerous to mention all by name) danced and sang their hearts out throughout.

And in one glorious scene, after married Gemma sits on her old childhood bed, finding it still adorned with her Sinitta duvet – a vision in white and silver emerges from the back of the stage. Sinitta!

To say the 80s pop star looked stunning would be an understatement. She looked more than spectacular, and the audience’s reaction was one of noisy delight.

Surrounded by palm-leaf waving escorts and singing her famous hit, So Macho, her appearance was the icing on the musical cake. And she graced the stage once again, singing in the finale.

Although starting off in an era 40-odd years ago, this feel-good musical didn’t feel at all dated, mainly because its backbone – the unforgettable hit songs of the time – are still constantly played around the world today.

I loved every entertaining minute.

Reviewer: Jackie Foottit

Reviewed: 4th February 2025

North West End UK Rating: