Review: West End Musical Halloween (Lyric Theatre)
- All That Dazzles
- Oct 29
- 5 min read
Review by Dan Ghigeanu
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many of us have our own Halloween traditions - some carve pumpkins, others rewatch Hocus Pocus for the hundredth time, and a few brave souls, me included, try to navigate the dark and scary streets of London all in the name of theatre. This year, I decided to start a new spooky tradition of my own, heading to the Lyric Theatre for West End Musical Halloween, the concert series that has quietly become a cult favourite among theatre fans and been a tradition for the All That Dazzles team who have covered it each year. Now in its fourth frightful year, the event promises a mix of West End powerhouses, big musical numbers, and a whole lot of ghostly fun. Would this latest installment leave me bewitched or would it terrify me for all the wrong reasons?
Hosted by producer and West End star Shanay Holmes, her infectious energy could have powered the entire theatre without the need for stage lights. Dressed as a witch and opening the show with a gorgeously rich ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’, she immediately sets the tone for the night, part concert, part party, and all unapologetic fun. As she introduced her “deadly performers” you could feel the excitement bubbling through the audience like a witch’s cauldron.
First up, Oliver Savile took the stage with a commanding performance of ‘Stars’ from Les Misérables, a song that is not exactly an easy warm-up number, but delivered with smooth confidence and vocal control that made it look effortless. Then came the moment that turned the atmosphere from enthusiastic to electric. Maddison Firth’s hauntingly beautiful rendition of ‘With You’ from Ghost. Her performance was so emotional that you could feel the air in the room shift. I spotted a few audience members wiping away tears, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little teary-eyed myself. Jeevan Braich followed with a sultry, jazzy ‘I Put a Spell on You’, giving us pure Halloween energy and proving that his vocals can easily match his charisma. Shortly after, Jacob Fowler delivered ‘Out There’, a soaring, heartfelt performance that earned him quite the roar from an audience that was already firmly under his spell.
One of the most exciting moments of these West End Musical concerts is the opportunity to see unexpected duets and mashups between performers. The chemistry between Shanay Holmes and Oliver Savile on ‘Suddenly Seymour’ was the kind of perfect Halloween love story you could only see at a West End Musical Halloween concert. Wicked fans were treated to a one-two punch of musical magic, With Jeevan Braich soaring through ‘The Wizard and I’, full of optimism and power, before Maddison Firth took on the monster of all songs, ‘Defying Gravity’. Tackling Elphaba’s anthem is no small task, but Maddison didn’t just hit the notes, she also owned them. Shanay Holmes closed the first act on a more emotional note with ‘As Long as He Needs Me’ from Oliver, which she has just completed a run in as Nancy. Her delivery was raw and heartfelt, and earned the first standing ovation of the evening, a fitting end to a first act bursting with vocal power.
The second act wasted no time getting the party started, as Shanay returned with ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, effortlessly blending powerhouse vocals with her signature stage charisma. Maddison followed with a delightfully sassy ‘Pulled’, full of comedic flair and perfect timing. Jeevan Braich brought cool swagger to ‘Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You’, giving a tease of Death Becomes Her while we eagerly wait for news of its West End life. Oliver Savile took us back to Oz with a joyful ‘Dancing Through Life’, but it was Jacob Fowler’s turn as the Dentist from Little Shop of Horrors that brought one of the biggest laughs and cheers of the night in a gloriously over-the-top performance that was equal parts hilarious and horrifying in the best possible way. Maddison returned for a rousing ‘Dead Girl Walking’ from Heathers, reminding everyone why this song remains a modern cult classic.
In an already enjoyable concert, we then went to the next level as we approached the “party portion” of the evening - a run of Halloween hits that had everyone out of their seats. Oliver Savile channelled his inner Tim Curry for a deliciously decadent ‘Sweet Transvestite’, embracing every flamboyant moment. Shanay Holmes led a full-theatre singalong to ‘Ghostbusters’ with audience members gleefully shouting at the top of their lungs, while Jeevan Braich’s ‘Thriller’ transformed the Lyric into a mini-Michael Jackson music video. By the time the entire cast joined forces for ‘Time Warp’, the crowd was fully enchanted, dancing and clapping along.
The most frightening thing about West End Musical Halloween isn’t the ghosts or ghouls, it’s how terrifyingly good every single performer is. With voices that could wake the dead, infectious chemistry, and a party atmosphere that few concerts can replicate, this show proves once again why it has become such a beloved part of the West End’s spooky season and is sure to continue to be resurrected for years to come. Whether you’re a die-hard theatre fan or just someone looking for a frightfully good night out, West End Musical Halloween delivers the perfect potion of powerhouse vocals, humour, and pure joy.
Setlist:
Physco – Corey (Violin solo)
Poor Unfortunate Souls – Shanay Holmes (from The Little Mermaid)
Stars – Oliver Savile (from Les Miserables)
With you – Maddison Firth (from Ghost)
I put a spell on you – Jeevan Braich (from Hocus Pocus)
Out there – Jacob Fowler (from The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Suddenly Seymour - Shanay Holmes & Oliver Savile (from The Little Shop of Horrors)
Freeze your brain – Jacob Fowler (from Heathers)
Wizard and I – Jeevan Braich (from Wicked)
Defying Gravity – Maddison Firth (from Wicked)
As long as he needs me – Shanay Holmes (from Oliver)
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Phantom of the Opera – Corey (violin solo)
Little Shop of Horrors – Shanay Holmes (from The Little Shop of Horrors)
Pulled – Maddison Firth (from The Addams Family)
Don’t say I didn’t warn you – Jeevan Braich (from Death Becomes Her)
Dancing Through Life – Oliver Savile (from Wicked)
Dentist – Jacob Fowler (from The Little Shop of Horrors)
Dead Girl Walking – Maddison Firth (from Heathers)
Sweet Transvestite – Oliver Savile (from The Rocky Horror Picture Show)
Everybody – Jacob Fowler
Ghostbusters – Shanay Holmes
Thriller – Jeevan Braich
Time Warp – Shanay Holmes, Oliver Savile, Maddison Firth, Jacob Fowler, Jeevan Braich
West End Musical Halloween played at the Lyric Theatre on 27th October.
Next up is West End Musical Christmas on 15th December.
Photos by Bonnie Britain