Here & Now: The Steps Musical

Review by James

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Steps never did do things by halves. The record-breaking British dance-pop legends defined a generation with their unashamedly high camp dance floor fillers, and so it is only fitting that their stage musical dials everything up to eleven.

You have to admire the audacity of it. An English seaside supermarket – Better Best Bargains - provides the backdrop for a story about the Tragedy (I’m sorry) of love, power of friendship, and the timeless quest for a happy ending during a Summer of Love.

Like any good jukebox musical, Here & Now hinges on its set-piece moments set against Steps’ biggest numbers but never veers into feeling contrived, and the supermarket’s threat of closure and Rebecca Lock’s likeable lead Caz ensure the story moves along at a steady pace.

Thanks to Tom Rogers’ lavish, futuristic take on Supermarket Sweep and Shaun Kitchener’s well-crafted and surprisingly heartfelt book it all works oh so well. Howard Hudson’s drunk on neon lighting also deserves great credit, though it will have you reaching for your sunglasses!

Neta (Rosie Singha) and Ben’s absurd serenading while singing and dancing in and around a bin is comedy perfection. But the wild second half is stolen by Jem’s (River Medway) riotous drag performance to Chain Reaction while dressed as a freezer bag riding a washing machine (Editor – this isn’t a typo). It’s a genuine roof lifting moment.

Sure, the vocals are prone to wildly shooting off course during the big dance numbers, but this isn’t a production that takes itself too seriously. It embraces the chaos and tongue in cheek knowingness to give the audience exactly what they want.

In return, they lap it up. Dance moves, panto booing, and no shortage of sparkly outfits. It’s a joyous celebration on and off stage, capped by a glorious megamix singalong.

Here & Now oozes the feel-good factor and will be coming to a high-street near you soon as part of a huge UK tour. You’ll Be Sorry to miss out.