Mean Girls the Musical at Bradford Alhambra Theatre Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Deborah Banasko
My daughter has been desperate to watch “Mean Girls The Musical” for most of the year so this was certainly being reviewed with high expectations.
Bradford Alhambra is a theatre that we have enjoyed many times, and it is always a wonderful experience. However on this occasion staff went above and beyond as my daughter is currently using a wheelchair and requires appropriate seating and an accessible toilet to be close by. With very little notice they were able to accommodate us fully which was truly appreciated. I would recommend anyone who has accessibility concerns to not be put off by this and just contact them directly, as they really are a fantastic team both in organising seats and assisting on the night.
If you are a fan of the Mean Girls movie as we are, then the storyline will be familiar as it is based on the 2004 Tina Fey movie. Cady Heron (played by Emily Lane) is attending an American High school for the first time having been raised in Kenya by her zoologist Mum (Faye Tozer). She forms friendships with fellow outcasts, Janis and Damian (Georgie Buckland and Max Gill), who convince her to infiltrate the elite school clique knows as “The Plastics” in order to take down their leader Regina George (Vivian Panka). However Cady starts to enjoy her new found popularity with Regina, Gretchen and Karen. She risks becoming yet another mean girl and forgetting who her true friends are. This is a story of teenage social dynamics, peer pressure, redemption and staying true to yourself. The message for teenage girls in the audience is a strong one; do not mix popularity up with finding your true identity, and support your peers to gain your strength.
With music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, this show has been around since 2017. I was concerned that a musical version would become a little “High School Musical” but this was definitely not the case- I would recommend the show for all ages.
The story has a fast-paced energy, a fantastic ensemble of dancers, great (and very speedy) costume changes and songs that will play in your head for days afterwards. Whilst there are plenty of comedic moments, the cast manage to expertly balance this with genuine emotion and a strong underlying message. The dialogue is sharp and of course you have the legendary one liner from the movie (“Stop Trying to make fetch happen”).
When Regina George is revealed for the first time, this may be one of the best character entrances I have ever seen- she absolutely nailed it with great support from fantastic staging and lighting. Then for even greater impact she launched into my favourite song of the night “Meet the Plastics” with the most outstanding vocals.
The choreography was on point, particularly in the lunch hall scene to the song “Where do you Belong?” where the humble plastic dinner tray became the prop of the night; perfectly executed.
I could list every song as a favourite, and whilst the anthems are very much of the “pop” genre, there is plenty light and shade with the different moods created.
These characters (and indeed the original movie) are iconic and thankfully the cast did them justice. Friends Karen and Gretchen were hilarious, and the song “What’s Wrong with Me?” performed by Gretchen (Kiara Dario) was timed perfectly with emotion and plenty of laughs.
I love the over-arching moral of the story- kindness over competition and women supporting women, alongside strong diverse female leads.
The show is fun, packed with amazing vocals and a first-class cast. I just wish it was Wednesday night- “On Wednesdays, we wear pink”.
I would award Mean Girls The Musical 5/5 stars.
Rating: 5/5
The show runs from 5th-10th October 2026, and tickets are priced between £23 and £60.
You can purchase tickets here: https://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/mean-girls