Hamilton at Theatre Royal Plymouth Review

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

Reviewed by Laura B

Hamilton at Theatre Royal Plymouth – A Powerful and Unforgettable Experience

I was privileged to attend Hamilton at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth for a second time — and it was absolutely brilliant. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it was even better than the first time. Hamilton has been reviewed countless times all over the world, and I’m not sure my words will do this powerful musical justice — but here goes!

I first became aware of the phenomenal musical Hamilton back in February 2015 during a family trip to New York. We were staying in the city when the buzz and excitement around the theatre were impossible to ignore — the crowds were immense, and the hype certainly piqued my interest!

When the Broadway sensation hit the West End in 2017, we made a special family trip to London to see it. At the time, my daughter was 12 and knew every single lyric. In the lead-up to that first visit, the soundtrack played non-stop in the car and at home. And despite knowing all the songs, I hate to admit — I still didn’t really know what the story was about the first time I saw it!

Fast forward eight years, and here we are again — my daughter, now home from university for the summer, just as excited to see Hamilton again as she was as a pre-teen.

The Theatre Royal Plymouth is a large, modern, and comfortable venue within walking distance (or a short taxi ride) from the train station, with plenty of nearby parking. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and the gallery bar is a perfect spot for pre-show drinks and socialising.

Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography and tells the story of Alexander Hamilton — one of America’s Founding Fathers — with music, lyrics, and book by the incredible Lin-Manuel Miranda. The show follows Hamilton’s journey from his humble beginnings in the West Indies to becoming George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War, and later, the nation’s first Treasury Secretary.

In this production, Marley Fenton shines as the orphaned immigrant Alexander Hamilton, navigating friendships, rivalries, love, betrayal, and power in a high-energy, emotional journey through American history.

There’s no spoken dialogue; every word is delivered in the form of rap, hip-hop, ballads, or classic musical numbers. The staging is simple yet effective, enhanced by stunning period costumes that immerse you in the era.

This production is anything but a dull history lesson. It’s educational, yes — but also thrilling, emotional, and completely captivating.

Billy Nevers, as Aaron Burr, owned the stage with his commanding presence and extraordinary vocal range. Louis Maskell brought a wonderful comic touch to the role of King George, leaving the audience chuckling. Casey Al-Shaqsy, who played Eliza Hamilton, was my favourite, the strength and purity of her vocal range captured Eliza’s emotions perfectly — I could honestly listen to her sing all day.

We left the theatre buzzing, talking about every cast member, the orchestra, and the sheer brilliance of the production. It’s hard to believe this was a touring show — the quality was that high.

My daughter’s favourite has always been ‘Satisfied’, while I’ve always loved ‘My Shot’. But truthfully, from the very first number, I just wanted to sing along to them all.

The finale brought a well-deserved standing ovation from the entire audience. We laughed, we cried — Hamilton has everything. It’s a show for all ages that absolutely needs to be experienced live.

If you’ve never seen it — go. If you’ve only watched it on Disney+ — go again. And if you’ve already seen it live before — see it again… and again… and again!

“WHO LIVES, WHO DIES, WHO TELKS YOUR STORY?”

Rating: 5/5

Hamilton runs at Theatre Royal Plymouth for six weeks — from 30th July to 6th September 2025.
Tickets range from £50–£85 and are available theatreroyal.com/hamilton-musical