Hercules
23 September 2025
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
The hotly anticipated Hercules musical has arrived in the West End, taking over the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until late March, but does it hold up to the high expectations of audiences?
With an impressive soundtrack, beloved source material, and a huge budget for costume and stage design, it has all the ingredients for a stunning musical, but somehow doesn’t quite go the distance. There’s the brilliant cast that throws their voices into the plethora of blasting songs, but there doesn’t seem to be any emotion behind this, the story just doesn’t connect, doesn’t stir up empathy with its characters. Somehow the addition of new songs lessens the impact of the well known classics, rushing through the plot at break-neck speed and never pausing to let feelings build and simmer.
The biggest saving grace for Hercules are definitely the muses. Candance Furbert, Sharlene Hector, Brianna Ogunbawo, Malinda Parris and Robyn Rose-Li are absolute powerhouses, impressing with an ever-changing wardrobe of gorgeous gowns and dazzling wigs while belting the main plot points out confidently and enchantingly. There is so much character and charm surrounding the five muses, their presence is sorely missed whenever they slink off the stage to give space to the actual main characters, who in turn struggle to bond with the audience in a meaningful way.
The story feels rushed with very little breathing space left between an assault of surprisingly unconnected songs and dance sequences. Neither Hercules nor Meg, Hero or Zeus, and especially Hades manage to fully materialise on stage, rather feeling like caricatures of themselves, like a peripheral spectre that never comes fully into focus. Apart from the remarkable muses, Phil is the only character that seems wholly formed and established, a unique presence, plucky and energetic. The rest of the show is a mix of gaudily golden, kitschy but sparse set design, mediocre choreographies, and a narrative that lacks depth and heart. Perfectly adequate entertainment, but nothing to write home about.
