You CAN'T STOP THE Hairspray UK Tour! - **** Review!

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the regional press night for the UK touring production of Hairspray in Woking!. It was a fantastic evening filled with fun and excitement. In this review, I will share my thoughts on the production.

The casting in this production was, for the most part, extremely strong!

Katie Brace as Tracy Turnblad

Katie Brace returns to the role of Tracy Turnblad, and she is an impeccable choice. She brings excellent comedic timing, wonderful dance skills, and a fantastic singing voice. Katie was a shining star on stage, delivering an outstanding performance. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Tracy’s celebrity crush-turned-love-interest, Link Larkin, is played by Solomon Davy, who oozes charm and charisma in every moment. He has strong vocals and consistently stands out in the dance numbers—another great casting choice.

Reece Richards takes on the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs. From the moment he stepped onto the stage, I was captivated by his performance. Every move was intentional and slick. His vocals were on point—particularly in Run and Tell That, which had the audience grooving along (myself included!).

Another standout was, of course, Joanne Clifton. I was particularly looking forward to seeing her in this role, and she did not disappoint. Clifton brought her renowned dancing talent to the stage as Velma Von Tussle. Her portrayal was the perfect blend of villainous without becoming overly panto-esque.

Michelle Ndegwa shines as Motormouth Maybelle, delivering powerhouse vocals and earning a huge round of applause after the hard-hitting number I Know Where I’ve Been. Though she doesn’t have as much stage time as Tracy Turnblad, her performance lingers in the minds of audience members due to its sheer impact.

Finally, it wouldn’t be right not to mention the hilarious duo of Edna and Wilbur Turnblad, played by Neil Hurst and Dermot Canavan, respectively. Their performance of You’re Timeless to Me was one of my favorite numbers of the night. The comedic chemistry between them made it truly unforgettable.

The set design was slightly underwhelming, relying heavily on projections that, at times, felt a little unimaginative. However, they did not detract from the brilliant performances happening in front of them.

Philip Gladwell’s lighting design was vibrant, particularly during the show’s finale, You Can’t Stop the Beat.

The choreography was executed with style and precision. Some moments were simple yet effective, while others were complex and fabulous.

Hairspray delivers an important message about racial integration in the media—a theme that remains as relevant as ever. With a heartwarming story, toe-tapping tunes, and laugh-out-loud moments, it’s a show worth seeing whether you’re a seasoned theatre fan or a newcomer.

I’d highly recommend Hairspray for a fun night out! Tickets for the Woking run at the New Victoria Theatre can be purchased [here]. You can also find details on the remaining venues, Llandudno and Sunderland, [here].

1st April 2025 (Not an April Fools Joke XD)

Robbie Davies | Robbie's Backstage Bants