Or, at least you are if you’re making a trip to Mayflower Theatre this week where Now That’s What I Call A Musical has taken centre stage.
Celebrating 40 years of compilation albums, this new UK musical is filled with hits from the 80s including Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Tainted Love, Hey Mickey, and Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.
It was hard sitting still in our seats as banger after banger came at us. It is the musical version of getting in your car and blasting the best pop music you can find after a long day.
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It is time to relive the 1980s (Image: Now That’s What I Call A Musical) But what exactly is this jukebox musical all about? Well, it’s time for a school reunion. We’re taken back to 1989, AKA the school days, which play out alongside the big reunion in 2009, where April and Gemma sing their way through their final year of school and early 20s.
April, played by Maia Hawkins in 1989, dreams of moving to LA and becoming an actress whereas best friend Genna, brought to life by Nikita Johal, hopes to train as a nurse, get married and have a family in Birmingham, where the musical is set.
The youngsters are full of hope, aspiration and joy – a complete contrast to characters three decades later who are forced to look their younger selves in the eye to see what they’ve achieved – or not.
Don’t worry, the musical isn’t at all gloomy; it’ll have you laughing every five minutes. There’s no shying away from a joke, if there’s a laugh to be had, this musical will include it without shame.
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Nina Wadia as Gemma & Sam Bailey as April (Image: Rich Southgate / Now That’s What I Call A Musical) X-Factor winner Sam Bailey and TV star Nina Wadia (Goodness Gracious Me, Eastenders) portray the women in 2009 and were an absolute highlight of the show.
We loved Nina’s comedic timing and Sam’s powerful vocals, the duo effortlessly take the audience through Act Two as the pair negotiate their complicated friendship in 2009.
Directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood, the musical is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears, with some incredible ensemble dance numbers.
The surprise appearance in the second half had every 80s music fan grinning from ear to ear, in fact, the gentleman next to me was practically on his feet with joy.
With a storyline fit for some of the best soap operas on television, Now That’s What I Call A Musical is filled to the brim with musical tropes and stereotypes. It’s camp, silly and funny. Everything you need a musical to be in the cold winter months.
You’ll definitely leave the theatre with a cheesy grin and the desire to play 80s hits on the drive home.
Now That’s What I Call A Musical is at Mayflower Theatre until January 18, tickets can be found online or via the box office on 02380 711811.