Beauty And The Beast At The Liverpool Empire, Review

Reviewed by Rebecca Wong

It’s 30 years to the day since the Disney animated musical masterpiece Beauty and the Beast was released. I was a young child and found this film magical, as an adult I loved the live animation picture released in 2017 and as an avid musical theatre fan I was equally excited to be able to review the performance of Beauty and the Beast at Liverpool Empire.

The journey to Liverpool either by train or by car is a simple one. I have previously caught the train when attending shows at Liverpool Empire and Liverpool Lime Street train station is situated next door so couldn’t be easier. However on this occasion we decided to drive. We parked at Queen Square car park which is a 5 minute walk away and is based in a square full of restaurants so of course we decided to stop for some food prior to the show.

On arrival at the theatre, we were greeted by the theatre staff who asked for our Covid vaccination status. If you haven’t yet been vaccinated a recent negative Lateral Flow Test is also acceptable and if you have been unable to perform a test, the staff will take your temperature before entry to the theatre.

We took to our seats in the circle and couldn’t wait for the show to begin. It was wonderful to be back in a theatre again and the audience was buzzing with excitement. We were most looking forward to the costumes, battle scene, the transformation of Beast to Prince and how this musical that we have loved our whole lives, is translated to a live stage show.

Wow, wow, wow, we were not disappointed. The orchestra started playing and we were greeted with a plethora of familiar and new musical numbers. This musical is known for its catchy and wonderful hits and the orchestra beautifully performed each and every song.

Each character received an applause when they arrived on stage, from the charismatic Lumiere (played by Gavin Lee), the arrogant Gaston (played by Tom Senior) to the sweet and adorable Chip. They all embodied their characters perfectly and one of the standout performances was Mrs Potts (played by Sam Bailey). Her rendition of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was sensational and left me with a tear in my eye.

The costumes were all amazing and the changes, some very subtle, as the show progressed were perfect to portray the passing of time. The many, many scene changes were all magical and performed seamlessly and the superb lighting and special effects were a treat for the eyes.

The tavern scene was a delight to watch and I smiled all the way through; probably my favourite part of the show as it was energetic, well-choreographed, fun and Gaston was brilliant, witty and owned the stage.

The other two iconic scenes of the show are ‘Be Our Guest’ and the ballroom scene. The music, costumes, particularly Belle’s stunning, sparkly ballroom gown and the choreography were fantastic and watching Belle and Beast glide around the ballroom was mesmerising. The actors playing these two leading roles deserve a special mention. Belle (played by Courtney Stapleton) and Beast (played by Emmanuel Kojo) were a joy to watch, their vocal performances were flawless and they portrayed their characters wonderfully.

The finale was brilliant, the audience whooped and cheered as each household item returned to their original human form and before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye to these much-loved characters and this spectacular show. Overall the animated film was represented beautifully on stage with lines from the original script, the songs and mannerisms of the characters bringing to life this magical Disney classic

This unforgettable show is in town until the 16th October 2021 and you don’t want to miss it. From young to old, this show appeals to everyone and every second is sensational. It is a show I could happily watch again and again and the beautiful Liverpool Empire Theatre provides the perfect setting.

Rating: Its a definite 5/5 for me!

Tickets start from £13 plus a transaction fee of £3.65 and are available to buy from https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/disneys-beauty-and-the-beast/liverpool-empire/.