Last night we were teleported back to the 90s for a blast of pop-tastic nostalgia with Here and Now – The Steps Musical.
This isn’t the sort of show we normally go and see, in fact it was The Last Thing on my Mind. A musical masterpiece, or Better Best Forgotten? Find out in 5, 6, 7, 8…
Steps produce this jukebox musical, but it isn’t a biographical story of the band. Instead, think Eurovision meets Supermarket Sweep…
The action takes place in fictional Better Best Bargains. With her 50th birthday approaching, shopworker Caz challenges her colleagues to fix their broken love lives, during what she dubs The Summer of Love.
The narrative covers themes of broken relationships, affairs, and even baby loss. But if you’re not One for Sorrow, don’t worry – the plot feels more like a thread to hang the songs on. Some tracks fit, and others are clearly shoehorned in – with mixed results. Western hoedown 5, 6, 7, 8 is the most tenuous, but a real crowdpleaser nonetheless.
All the hits are here, often presented with nods to the original choreography. There are lesser known songs too…although a few are not so Hard 2 Forget. A preshow announcement about not singing along is a smart move, as this isn’t a concert and the excellent vocals and live band deserve to be heard unaccompanied.
The large cast fizz with energy and there’s plenty of talent on stage. We were thrilled to see Lara Denning as Caz; an absolute powerhouse performer who we loved as Anne Hathaway in &Juliet. Denning is effortlessly likeable and warm, and with possibly the best vocals we’ve heard on stage. A true asset to the show.
Also from &Juliet, Rosie Singha Steps up from ensemble to lead, and plays Neeta. Singha is engaging, and has solid vocals and a believable chemistry with love interest Ben (Ben Darcy)
Jacqui Dubois as Vel nails the down-to-earth, chatty supermarket shelf-stacker. Naive Robbie (Blake Patrick Anderson) hasn’t known love and is scared to commit when he meets a local drag legend. Store manager Patricia (Sally Ann Matthews) keeps the workers in check, and gets laughs with cheeky lines and an attempt at French.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race favourite River Medway plays Jem, and we’re treated to a full drag routine in the second act. Medway milks every moment, and has some of the standout costumes of the show. The character is delivered with heart, especially during the more poignant scenes.
Tom Rogers set design is striking, rife with Steps signature blue and pink motif. What it lacks is variety though; visually the show looks similar throughout, and the supermarket setting can look cheap at times. Maybe it was marked down? Perhaps the budget look is intentional, but we’ve been spoilt with the production values of jukebox shows like We Will Rock You.
That being said, fans won’t be booking for a sumptuous set or complex plot. Ultimately, if you’re a follower of the band, there’s plenty to enjoy here. A trip down musical memory lane, for those old enough to remember…
Here and Now is a few hours of camp, colourful fun. The inevitable megamix triggers a Chain Reaction that has this enthusiastic audience on their feet. Steps fan? Listen to these Words of Wisdom. Missing it would be a…you guessed it…Tragedy.
Step-tacular!
How to book? Here! When? Now! https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/here-and-now-the-steps-musical/grand-opera-house-york/. Runs until Sunday 15th February 2026.
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 