'Here and Now' - UK Tour Review [Woking] ***** | Robbie's Backstage Bants

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a performance of Here and Now, a brand-new musical featuring the music of Steps, at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking, as part of their UK tour!

Here and Now is a new musical based on the songs of the hit British dance-pop group Steps! It takes us to “Better Best Bargains”, where dramas are the daily and Caz discovers that not everything is as it seems — and everything can change in a matter of minutes!

The first thing that struck me with this show is the extravagant set, designed by Tom Rogers. It really was a unique design that could be easily adapted for time of day and even other locations with flying scenery — however, with an overall supermarket feel throughout. Complimenting this beautifully was Howard Hudson’s lighting design, which could either make you feel like you’re at a disco or you’re under the jarring fluorescent lighting of your local supermarket.

This show has an incredible cast, all of whom make this show really special.

Photography by Pamela Raith

Leading the pack is Rebecca Lock as Caz. No stranger to the role of a leading lady, Lock graces the stage with a commanding presence and a great energy that is hard to match. Her comedy chops, stellar vocals, and raw emotional acting really make this a memorable performance. There is something special about watching Rebecca Lock, which I feel every single time I see her in a different musical. She was the perfect choice for this role, and she is only in the show until the 9th of November — so catch her while you can! Lara Denning, another fabulous performer, will be taking on the role of Caz at venues following the 9th November.

Jacqui Dubois plays the role of Vel. Bringing lots of character to the stage, Dubois is so much fun to watch! She brings humour as well as feeling to the piece, and I thought her vocals were very pleasing to the ear.

Photography by Pamela Raith

Blake Patrick Anderson is Robbie Davies — the first thing I loved about this character is that we literally share a name! The second thing is that Anderson’s portrayal is a delight. Anderson brings a whole new added humour to the performance; his cheeky smile and charming personality turn Robbie into a really lovable character (phew!). It is nice to see a different side in his acting when talking through the character’s turmoil regarding his father. His chemistry with the other performers is lovely to watch too — particularly with Rebecca Lock and River Medway.

Completing the leading quartet was Rosie Singha as Neeta. This bubbly character brought a smile to my face consistently throughout the performance. Singha brings such a wonderful energy to the show and completes it with some stunning vocals too.

Photography by Pamela Raith

Other standouts included River Medway, who played Jem with sass, charisma, and presence. They also had a showstopping drag performance in the middle of Act Two with lots of lycra and washing machines — I’ll let you find out more about that for yourself.Edward Baker-Duly played the cunning and crafty businessman Max that the audience loved to hate. His acting was flawless and a pleasure to watch — even if you were cursing his name!

The show is complete with a tight ensemble full of high-energy dancers and powerful full-company vocals. Something I noticed more within this cast is how much fun they were having on stage — it was a joy to watch them feeling such joy!

Photography by Pamela Raith

The book of the show deserves many awards. Here and Now has a brand-new book by Shaun Kitchener. The integration of songs into the book was seamless and smooth. Kitchener has provided a gripping story with a laugh-a-minute script and a plot twist around every corner. The audience was literally gasping — it is fantastic to know how invested in the story they were, and this truly is credit to Kitchener’s work.

Director Rachel Kavanaugh brings the show to life, finding light and shade throughout the musical — something that is really important to keep a show from feeling monotonal.

Matt Cole has once again created some great choreography, very fitting to the style and flow of the piece. Every accent fits perfectly with the music, which is, of course, iconic Steps disco anthems. It is nice to see things that don’t look complex mixed in with advanced moves, giving the cast a range of movement to work with. Not forgetting the Trolley-ography too (Mind-Blown!)

As someone who isn’t a die-hard Steps fan and just knows and enjoys their music — you really do not need to be one to like the show. That being said, the show is aimed at fans of Steps, and rightly so — it’s a fun show full of their iconic tracks, ranging from Better the Devil You Know to Tragedy.

Overall, this is a must-see. I came into this thinking I was in for a night of moderately entertaining theatre — and came out of it absolutely buzzing, smiling from ear to ear, and completely blown away by the talent I had witnessed. This is an example of what can happen when a jukebox musical is done right — it creates a phenomenal experience for theatre-goers and Steps fans alike.

Catch the show in Woking until Saturday 18th October, here.

Or on the rest of the tour, here!

If you see it, let me know what you thought!

16th October 2025

Robbie Davies | Robbie’s Backstage Bants