The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – Hull New Theatre

I watched the film, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, on TV over Christmas, so was intrigued as to how a musical version of the story would transfer to the stage.

I found out on Wednesday evening when The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical came to the Hull New Theatre.

It was great to see theatregoers of all ages crowded into the foyer, pre-show, with the queue to buy merchandise growing by the minute.

And at curtain up we were met with an industrial looking set design that mirrored rusty water pipes and concrete tunnels under the city of Los Angeles. A huge, curved, lit-up structure either side of the stage remained for the duration, but the video backdrop changed constantly, and most effectively, with staircases, seating and box-like creations being wheeled on and off (unobtrusively) at intervals.

So, the stage was set (pardon the pun) for the fantasy to begin.

Sixteen-year-old Percy Jackson (Vasco Emauz) discovers he is the half-blood son of the Greek God, Poseidon; a discovery that plunges him into a scary, mind-blowing underworld in which he has to overcome many challenges.

Finding out that the mighty God, Zeus, is accusing him of stealing his lightning bolt and that if he doesn’t return it, the war that will ensue between the Gods would mean the end of the world, makes Percy even more determined to save the planet.

Joining him on his life-changing adventure is his school pal, Grover (Cahir O’Neill), who is the offspring of an unknown satyr (a woodland nature spirit in Greek mythology – I Googled) and a nymph. A fact Percy is totally unaware of until Grover’s goat-like legs and cloven feet appear a là Narnia’s Mr Tumnus.

The goddess Athena’s daughter, Annabeth (Kayna Montecillo) gets in on the action with her own agenda and that’s when the adventure really begins.

Percy’s mother, Sally (one of multiple roles on the night for Simone Robinson) steers her son towards visiting Camp Half-Blood run by the grumpy God of Wine, Mr D (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK champion Danny Beard).

It’s at Camp Half-Blood that Percy also meets his wheelchair-bound schoolteacher, Mr Brunner (Niall Sheehy) who just happens to be a centaur (half man, half horse).

However, Mr D is of no help whatsoever to Percy and, learning he is Poseidon’s son would like nothing more than to turn him into a dolphin.

Avoiding Mr D’s clutches is just one of the many escapades facing Percy who, by this time has gained powers he has no control over. But, boy, do those powers come in handy in his unceasing brave quest to save the world.

It’s no spoiler to say he is successful, The Lightning Thief being the first of seven books in the series, but he has to go to hell and back, literally, to fulfil his ambition.

The Lightning Thief, in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, is written by fantasy novelist Rick Riordan and brought to the stage by writer Joe Tracz and composer/lyricist Rob Rokicki, who both started writing the musical a decade ago.

Talking of the music, musicians playing the most glorious tunes were screened aloft, behind the huge video backdrop.

All the singing voices on the night did justice to the songs, with Emauz, O’Neill and Montecillo’s tuneful renditions, in particular, never wavering for a minute.

In the main, the 14-strong cast are dressed in casual denims, T-shirts et al, although glitter does get a look in at times.

There is comedy as well as drama with Mr D’s (Beard) shenanigans, and fun in the DOA (dead on arrival) Recording Studios – the gateway to the Underworld – with a three-headed DJ on the decks.

And I actually laughed out loud when Medusa (a Gorgon whose looks could turn you to stone) revealed her headful of writhing snakes. Very funny.

I’m not sure I would have truly understood the story if I hadn’t seen the movie, but judging by the enthusiastic responses from the audience, I was in the minority.

At the show’s end, many theatregoers gave a standing ovation to the small cast whose energetic performances brought the boy demi-God’s adventures to life in exciting, flash, bang, wallop scenes.

All this considered – stage setting, costumes, acting, singing, special effects and so on – in my humble opinion, means the musical stage version totally does justice to the movie.

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical runs at the Hull New Theatre until Sunday, February 1st 2025, with tickets available from (01482) 300306 or www.hulltheatres.co.uk

Reviewer: Jackie Foottit

Reviewed: 28th January 2025

North West End UK Rating: