You’ve heard of Hercules, you may have heard of Perseus, but do you know Percy Jackson, the demigod of the new world? A best selling book series, two movie adaptations and, most recently, a multi series Disney television show. And it’s a musical.
“The gods are real, and they have kids. And those kids have issues”.
Sixteen-year-old Percy Jackson is expelled from yet another school. Just when he thinks there’s no hope for a kid like him, he finds out that he is a half-blood. The future of the world hangs in the balance, as Percy and his friends embark on a difficult quest encountering monsters, gods and all sorts of chaos. The stage show takes Rick Riordan’s first novel, “The Lightning Thief”, and adds an electrifying soundtrack to engage all audiences, whether child, adult, or demigod.
Rob Rokicki’s pop punk style songs are thrilling, full of exciting guitar riffs and drum beats, and performed brilliantly by the band, directed by Will Joy. Vocally, this soundtrack is asking so much of the ensemble. Top of the range belts are frequently included in the already strenuous battle scenes or in the emotional power ballads. But this cast does a great job of showcasing the score, particularly Vasco Emauz.
Percy’s songs are his moments to shine, and boy does he. Emauz’s Percy is exactly how the fans would want him to be; relatable, charming, and unmistakably the anti-hero. The beloved character is in such safe hands here. Percy hardly leaves the stage; it’s his story that we follow, and his victory that we’re rooting for. Emuaz not only succeeds in bringing this character to life, he sings the hell out of the part too. From the get-go it feels as if he’s talking to every single audience member personally, the connection is instant and it only grows from here. It’s a star turn from Emauz, and I cannot wait to see how his career progresses.
Kayna Montecillo is also captivating as “wise girl” Annabeth Chase. With a crystal clear vocal tone, Montecillo brings so much heart to her solo of “My Grand Plan” and is a believable voice of reason in the trio. Whenever she steps out on stage, her understated confidence draws you in and is the perfect calm to Percy’s storm.
The third in this team is Grover, the goofy satyr whose job it is to protect the demigods on their quest. Alex Anderton, who usually is in the ensemble, took his turn at this evening’s performance and with terrific comic timing and a gorgeous vocal, was an absolute joy in this role.
Teenage angst and frustration within musicals is always tricky to portray. There are many moments that could be cringy or over shot, but what this cast does is bring forward the emotional reality of the story. They are believable teenagers, and thanks to Lizzi Gee’s direction, it never feels “too much”. Gee’s direction is fast-paced, slick and consistently high energy, as is her choreography. The build up to the conclusion may have felt a little rushed, (it’s a lot to fit into just over 2 hours), but the persistent high stakes dynamic creates a polished production all around.
Pipes and ramps frame the stage, and with boxes that easily adapt and travel, the story can take us to differing locations in an instant. A giant circle looming over the action, not unlike an evil eye, is used efficiently alongside video design by Matt Powell to bring colourful and otherworldly visions to life. I particularly enjoyed the strips of light projected onto the stage to convey a travelling landscape, and appreciated the scenery in the battle scenes, offering stairs to climb and bars to hang from; a parkour park to make use of.
There are already so many devoted fans of the original work by Rick Riordan, and as one, I was pleasantly surprised at how true to the source material the musical felt. Joe Tracz has expertly adapted the piece, keeping the overall themes at the heart of the stage show; “normal is a myth” and your differences make you strong. Its positive messages of bravery, belonging and friendship are an aspiring take-home for young people, and a kind reminder for the adults out there too.
A riveting score and an epic adventure for everybody to enjoy. What more could you ask for?
The Lightning Thief runs at HOME Manchester until 21st February, you can buy tickets at https://homemcr.org/whats-on/the-lightning-thief-the-percy-jackson-musical-b59t
It then continues on its UK tour until the end of March.
Reviewer: Coral Mourant
Reviewed: 11th February 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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