80s Live! at Lighthouse Poole Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Helen O

Being a child of the 80s, I’d made it through the wilderness—somehow, I’d made it through—and was beyond excited to experience 80s Live! as it rolled into Lighthouse Poole for one night only, as part of the national tour. Billed as the biggest 80s party show to tour the UK, it certainly lived up to our expectations!

Brought to us by the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End, 80s Live! is a vibrant, feel-good celebration of the decade that defined pop culture. From the moment the show began, the energy was electric, transporting the audience back to an era of neon and unforgettable anthems.

The show took place in the Concert Hall at Lighthouse, Poole, which is such a great performance space for this type of event. There are excellent views of the stage wherever you’re seated, comfy seats and plenty of leg room. We were seated in row N in the middle of the auditorium.

The 80s Live! cast consisted of 5 fabulous singers; Brian, Darren, Karen, Rachel and not to mention producer Sid, who compèred the night’s entertainment. The artists were accompanied by a sensational live band ‘Electric Dreams’ (consisting of Rory, Steve and a special mention to Dave from Poole!), who performed countless chart topping anthems, taking the audience on a non-stop journey through the best of 80s music.

There was A LOT of amazing music in the 80s and I was pleasantly surprised with how many of these iconic anthems were jam-packed into tonight’s performance, it was an absolute feast for the senses!

The audience were encouraged right from the start, to get to their feet and join in, sing along and have a party and the majority took of advantage of this, which was great to see. Also, it was brilliant to see so many of the audience had come in 80s dress up, which certainly added to the atmosphere and made it a night to remember.

Although the show is not affiliated with any of the featured artists, tonight’s show was basically the ultimate tribute act. Featuring music from all the 80s icons including Soft Cell, Dead or Alive, Duran Duran, Madness, The Human League, Cyndi Lauper, Rick Astley, Culture Club, Madonna, Wham! And so many more.

What set 80s Live! apart from traditional tribute acts was its fresh approach—the performers didn’t seek to mimic these legendary artists but instead paid tribute to their music, occasionally incorporating recognisable costumes, like Boy George’s iconic look.

80s Live! really brought the party to Poole this evening, whether the audience were reliving their youth (which many were, including myself) or even discovering the magic of this fantastic era, there was no doubt that everyone had a fabulous time. The audience were on their feet and the atmosphere was electric.

The standout moment for me was Darren’s performance of Spandau Ballet’s True, which was the only ballad of the night. The clarity of his vocals was fantastic and created a beautiful contrast against the otherwise high-energy set list.

My favourite part of the show was the finale, which included a Wham! section, as I love their music. By this time the whole audience was on their feet having a ball, as was I. Absolutely brilliant.

As is sometimes the case in the Concert Hall, the only downside of the performance was that often the band’s music was so loud that it wasn’t possible to hear the vocals as clearly as I’d have liked, but it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the show.

The show ran for approx. 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval, which was plenty of time to grab a drink and take a comfort break, in preparation for the second half. With ticket prices starting at £22, I think 80s Live! offers fantastic value for an unforgettable evening packed with 80s favourites.

Rating: 4/5
RRP – Ticket price from: £22
Buy tickets here: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/80s-live-2/
80s Live! Was appearing at Lighthouse Poole for one night only, as part of their UK tour. Full Tour Dates can be found here: https://entertainers.co.uk/shows/80s-live

Address: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG