Review: Here & Now - The Steps Musical (The Alexandra, Birmingham)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s time to begin, now count it in – as the world premiere of Here & Now – The Steps Musical has taken place in Birmingham, and the world of musical theatre is a brighter place for it… quite literally. Taking the camptastic songbook of the pop group who have entertained countless gay men for four decades, the music has been paired with a dream creative team, causing a real buzz when this musical was first announced. The question is would it be able to be a Steptacular success or would the whole thing end up as a tragedy and wind up better best forgotten?

It is no secret what a huge fan of Steps I am and have always been. Before I developed my love of theatre, my love of Steps was dominant – so much so that I ended my childhood years having seen them in concert more times than I had ever been to the theatre. That love continued into adulthood and you would find me at the front of every tour they did . You may have seen me fawning over this musical already on social media from attending the first preview (with my reviewer brain switched off, of course) , and the star rating at the top may give you an idea of where this review is going, but let me clear something up – I could review this show from the perspective of a Steps fan, the perspective of a musical theatre fan or that of a theatre reviewer. I’m going to try and encompass all three in this review, taking away any bias I have from those countless hours practicing the dance moves in my bedroom (and that was just in my 30s) and trying to articulate why a Steps musical THIS good really was the last thing on my mind.

Here & Now doesn’t tell the story of Claire, Faye, H, Lee and Lisa. Instead, it is set in the fictional supermarket “Better Best Bargains” (do you see what they did there?) in a seaside town where four friends and co-workers are determined to have a summer of love, all seeking to make changes in their lives and their own situations and taking a chance on a happy ending. Their plans take an unexpected turn, however, when the supermarket faces closure.

Getting the tone right for a show like this would be a deciding factor in its success – writer Shaun Kitchener manages this with ease. Having been on a journey after creating their unauthorised musical 5,6,7,8 in 2017, he has been given the time and patience to perfectly craft this story and the result is clear to see. Proudly camp and unashamedly silly, Shaun’s writing is filled with humour, creating a hit rate of witty one-liners and clever self-referencing gags. There is a lot here for Steps fans to enjoy with some niche references and in-jokes, though that’s not to say you will get anything less out of this show if you’re not a die-hard mega fan with writing that feels accessible to all, with a surprising amount of heart thrown in to the story too.

The next step in the success of this musical is in how effortlessly the music fits in. With jukebox musicals, there is always going to be a degree of shoehorning in songs to make them work and Here & Now doesn’t escape that, but it has no shame in doing so and does it with a knowing wink to the audience. In many cases, the songs insert themselves effortlessly to create a surprisingly cohesive story – I would wonder if somebody unfamiliar with the Steps songbook would even know these were songs before the story of Better Best Bargains came along. Musical numbers I have known and loved for 25 years are given new meaning, particularly in the poignant ‘Heartbeat’ which unlocks a hidden depth to the lyrics, changing its initial intent but losing nothing in doing so.

While many of the musical numbers are present in their original forms, some of them have been re-arranged such as a gorgeous new interpretation of ‘One For Sorrow’, delivered in a powerhouse performance by Rebecca Lock and very nearly bringing the house down in the process. While it is no secret that the Steps songbook is one of my favourites, I was impressed at their versatility and how well they can be reinterpreted. The common threads across their songs of love and heartbreak give the characters in Here & Now plenty to work with, working well with the natural storytelling aspect present in the songs and elevated meticulously by Kitchener’s writing. Yes, it can be cheesy at times but would you expect anything less? And more importantly, would you WANT anything less?

One thing that became synonymous with Steps was their dance routines. Simple enough so  that everyone can join in (you would regularly find me in my bedroom attempting to perfect them… but enough about last week) they became iconic in their own right. Quite inspiringly, Here & Now doesn’t attempt to recreate them faithfully, instead choosing to draw inspiration from them and do something different entirely. Matt Cole, the incredible choreography who won an Olivier for his stunning work on Newsies has been recruited to work his magic again, and boy has he. When I say imagine Steps doing Newsies, that might not seem like the most obvious of matches but it turns out to be a match made in heaven. Elaborate, exquisite and exhilarating routines burst from the stage regularly, with cast members jumping, defying gravity (not quite – that’s another musical entirely) and using shopping trolleys in such a way that would get you banned from Tesco. The supermarket setting even lends itself to unique aisleography (it will make sense when you see it). Always sensational to watch, Matt Cole has come up trumps again with this one, with the nods to the original choreography buried in there showcasing his own talents while paying tribute to the originals.

You don’t need to feel a deeper shade of blue at the lack of these recognisable routines though. While it would be a complete tragedy if you weren’t able to hold your hands to your head at a certain Steps single, the finale has you covered. Clearly not all megamixes are created equally and Here & Now obliterates all competition. The best way to describe this eight minute monster is musical heaven, giving you no option but to stomp all night. Everything you could have possibly wanted coming at you faster than the checkout person scanning your shopping at Lidl. If there is a better way to spend eight minutes in a theatre, I really don’t know what you could be doing… and imagine it may well be illegal.

Here & Now runs the risk of being busy at times. It is loud and proud and we wouldn’t want it any other way. Director Rachel Kavanaugh has the job of keeping it all together, as the huge production elements threaten to explode, and she does a remarkable job in doing so. Making sense of it all, she directs the show with fun and flair, with bold choices and instantly iconic sequences. While ‘Something In Your Eyes’ might not be one of the more commonly known singles in Steps’ catalogue (you really are missing out on a great album if you don’t know it), the sequence proves to be one of the most fun and memorable, all with the aid of a simple bin.

Tom Rogers’ set design is big, bright and bold as it takes you into the world of Better Best Bargains. The most extravagant seaside supermarket you will ever see, it puts Sainsbury’s to shame! More pink than Elle Woods’ wardrobe, it ensures Here & Now is always visually stimulating with no shortage of sight gags and references to enjoy (the name of the bin had me laughing far more than a bin ever should). Essentially, if you ever see anything with writing on stage, take a moment to read it as the gags are hidden in plain sight here. The gorgeous aesthetic is matched by Gabriella Slade’s outstanding costume designs with ever-changing aprons leaving me wondering how much budget this particular supermarket has for staff uniform! Beautiful lighting by Howard Hudson will ensure you’re never left scared of the dark (though it does form a key part in the megamix) while Adam Fisher’s sound design makes these now timeless numbers sound better than ever before.

The employees at Here & Now are made up of some of musical theatres finest. Hiba Elchikhe gives a warm performance as one of the four core friends with the instantly loveable Neeta. As well as showcasing her comedy chops, she also gets to show off her incredible vocals, and enjoys one of the standout moments in a musical number with love interest Ben, played by a charming and charismatic Dan Partridge. Sharlene Hector gives a joyful performance as the no-nonsense Vel with a smile rooted to her face, the energy bounces off her, uplifting the audience further. Like Hiba, she too has the most phenomenal voice and when she gets to showcase it throughout the show, the audience are all the better for it.

Blake Patrick Anderson gives a sweet and comedic turn as Robbie, whose carefree lifestyle takes an unexpected star when he meets Jem (River Medway). A fantastic performer, he is in his element in a role which gives him some of the funniest one-liners throughout. It is his rendition of ‘Say You’ll Be Mine’ that stays with you after the show though, breathing new life into an already sweet song. River Medway’s appearances throughout may be fleeting but he makes sure to leave a lasting impression with an astonishing turn in one of the show’s biggest numbers, ‘Chain Reaction’, delivering what can only be described as a supreme performance. Finty Williams, though underused, is the very definition of less is more, stealing every scene she is involved with and bringing the laughs with her very specific French pronunciations. Though she is missed in act two, her eventual appearance is more than worth the wait in an overall commanding and hilarious characterisation. A special mention must also go to the hardworking ensemble – a force to be reckoned with who come alive in the bigger numbers present in the show.

While the cast are all exceptional in their own right, the star turn in Here & Now undoubtedly belongs to Rebecca Lock. Leading the pack as Caz, she orchestrates the summer of love and forms the heart of the story. In the most fleshed out character of them all, Lock shines with all the depth she brings to the role and has several knockout moments throughout, including her poignant and sensitive rendition of ‘Heartbeat’. It is her sensational take on ‘One For Sorrow’ that proves the greatest moment of the show, however, stopping the show with its magnitude. In a song that effortlessly translates to a musical theatre setting, Lock’s vocals impress on that number and on every other throughout, with a style not too dissimilar to that of Steps own Claire Richards – the highest compliment I could afford any performer.

Crucially, Here & Now works because it is created by people who clearly understand theatre. I can think of a fairly recent jukebox musical that suffered due to limitations in how they were allowed to use the catalogue, leaving a show that didn’t translate well for the stage and never quite lived up to its promise. That is not a problem here. The writer and creative team know what will work and set out to deliver a well-rounded show where every element is allowed to shine The fact that these people are also clear lovers of Steps and their music has led to a show that will be loved by musical theatre lovers and Steps fans alike, in a fabulous first instalment of what I am affectionately calling the STU (Steps Theatrical Universe).

Here & Now isn’t just a good Steps musical, it’s a fantastic musical overall. Taking away any bias I have from all those hours spent learning the routines in my 30s, I fell head over heels in love with this musical.  While some may be ready to criticise the show purely for using the Steps songbook, it takes the Mamma Mia! formula and creates a joyous new addition to the jukebox musical genre to deliver what may just be the best new jukebox musical in years and is a strong contender for my personal favourite musical this year. Sometimes, all you want from theatre is something that can bring you unbridled joy and this doesn’t just do that, it throws in a special deal to give you something extra at the same time. I can't recall ever grinning as widely as I did from start to finish here and the power of that can't ever be underestimated. Some may long for more original musicals rather than another jukebox but it’s true what they say – It’s better the devil you know.

As A Steps fan, this show really has got a hold of my heart, being everything I could have wanted from a musical of their songs… and more, but as a musical theatre lover and a reviewer, we are all in agreement (yes, I just referred to 3 parts of myself as we – be worried). In the wrong hands, Here & Now could have easily been a tragedy, and I’m sure some expected it to be. However, this feel good, fun and fabulous show is full of so much joy, I found it impossible to not smile all the way through. This steptacular musical may well have broken my star system as I truly feel it deserves more than five stars - it deserves 5, 6, 7, 8 of them.

Here & Now plays at The Alexandra in Birmingham until 30th November.

Tickets available here.

What the future holds after that is a tour of the UK and Ireland next year.

Dates and tickets available here.

Photos by Pamela Raith