Strictly Ballroom: The Musical At Birmingham Hippodrome Review

Reviewed by Catherine Brown

‘Strictly Ballroom: The Musical’ has sashayed and swayed onto the stage at Birmingham Hippodrome, bringing a night of energy, drama and humour to the Midlands theatre. The 1982 feel good film by Baz Luhrmann has been adapted cleverly for the stage with superb results. This must-see show, touring the UK, is directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

The story is set in 1980’s Australia, where competitive ballroom dancer Scott Hastings (Kevin Clifton) has caused controversy by performing previously unseen moves on the dancefloor. This not only causes his partner to quit but also upsets egotistical judge Barry Fife who dislikes any new style that could impact on sales of his own instructional videos.

Despite attempts by Scott’s mother to find him a new partner, no-one is willing to take the risk of losing a title at the Pan Pacific Grand Prix. With Scott determined to dance his way, he enlists the help of beginner dancer Fran who has been more used to stacking chairs and making cups of tea than dancing a sensual rhumba.

The show does a brilliant job of demonstrating all the drama and heartache that being true to your identity rather than sticking to tradition brings. The line ‘Who says the judges are always right?’ shows how just because things are interpreted differently (in this case the music) that doesn’t make them wrong. The serious message is intertwined with lots of comedy, particularly from Scott’s parents.

While the energy and moves of all the cast was fantastic, my favourite dance involved Fran’s over-protective father (Jose Agudo) demonstrating to Scott how the Paso Doble should be performed. My favourite character was Fran’s grandmother – a feisty character who encourages Fran to be as determined as her Mother once was.

While all the vocals were strong, Maisie Smith playing Fran was a most captivating performer. Her voice was both powerful and tending, while she played a nervous self-conscious but optimistic character brilliantly. I found myself mesmerised by this outstanding show which challenges the view of sticking to the rules or being open to new experiences.

The actors are supported by vibrant costumes and impressive scenery while the orchestra did a fantastic job capturing the varying emotions of the characters. The soundtrack has some familiar tunes such as Love is in the air and Time after Time which are intertwined cleverly with the storyline.

The theatre is easy to get, we parked at the Arcadian car park nearby which offers a 5pm – 2am theatre rate. The staff at the hippodrome were very helpful and friendly. There was a good range of drinks and snacks available at the interval along with a selection of Strictly Ballroom merchandise. The seats were comfortable with generous leg room and there were plenty of clean toilets which avoided the chance of large queues.

Rating: I would recommend this show to audiences of all ages, definitely worthy of a 5 out of 5 rating. I was captivated by the non-stop energy and left the theatre with a smile on my face.

Strictly Ballroom: The Musical is at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB as part of a tour of the UK and Ireland.

Tickets cost from £28 for the Birmingham shows which run until 5th November can be bought at www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/strictly-ballroom/ or from the box office on 0844 338 5000