Last night we cracked open some corn nuts, slurped on a slushie and settled in for Heathers The Musical…
For those unfamiliar with the 1988 film, the plot follows students at Westerberg High desperately trying to find their place and fit in. The untouchable Heathers rule the roost; a trio of formidable femmes that call the shots and show no mercy. Think Mean Girls in bright colours (Red, Yellow and…Green Girls?!)
Veronica Sawyer helps the group out and unwittingly becomes enlisted as Heather number four. A crisis of heart follows, as she tries to stay loyal to her friends whilst following the new social rules. Add love interest Jason Dean into the mix, and you’re in for a wild ride…
We first saw Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet in &Juliet, and were wowed by her incredible performance and powerhouse vocals. She excels here as Veronica too, and adds some goofy comedy to the role. Nominated Best Professional Debut, she deserves every accolade.
Heather Chandler (Liberty Stottor) is the baddest of the bunch, full of sass and swagger. The Mythic Bitch is perfectly cast, and is somehow likeable despite her acid tongue.
Heather Duke (Jessica Ibadin) transforms seamlessly from underdog to queen bee, and I Will Never Shut Up Again is the pinnacle of her evolution. Heather McNamara (Lou Henry) is the airhead cheerleader who follows the crowd, whilst battling her own demons as her friendships fall apart. Her solo Lifeboat is delivered beautifully, and tugs on the heartstrings.
All the Heathers gel perfectly – choreography is tight, vocals first class and harmonies sublime. They’re supported by a large ensemble, who have bags of energy and never miss a beat.
Wayward wanderer Jason ‘JD’ Dean, is believable as the mysterious out-of-town misfit. No spoilers, but his character arc is played to perfection, and Louis Hearsey nails every moment of his unhinged descent. Formidable vocals, his duet with Veronica in Our Love is God had this audience hanging on every word.
Hippie teacher Ms. Fleming (Veronica Carabai) just wants everyone to explore their feelings. Her interaction with an unsuspecting audience member is a treat, it’s refreshing to see such a honed show go ‘off book’ and allow room for improvisation.
Our heart aches for Martha Dunstock (Sophie Manners). The butt of every joke, she doesn’t fit in and she knows it. Manners has less stage time than some, but makes the most of every moment. Kindergarten Boyfriend is bittersweet and performed to perfection.
Dim-witted football jocks Kurt Kelley (Markus Sodergren) and Ram Sweeney (Beau Jackson) get some of the biggest laughs. The stereotype could fall flat, but they send it up so well and bravely spend much of the show in their pants.
David Shields’ design perfectly captures the 80s high school environment. Simple set dressing transforms the school into a house party, bedroom and even a 7-11. Ben Cracknell’s lighting design is worth a special mention, with those iconic colours highlighting each Heather perfectly.
The score is fantastic and the live band thrash out every note with gusto. Between the toe-tappers there are some touching ballads and tender moments too. It’s loud, but the levels only rarely overwhelm the vocals. This is a soundtrack we play regularly and, honestly, it’s hard to pick favourites!
Family fun? Only with older kids, the recommended age is 14+. For a seemingly colourful show, the narrative takes some dark turns. Again no spoilers, but expect themes of suicide, date rape, homophobia, bulimia and more. Despite this, you’ll still have the biggest smile on your face and go home humming the hits.
There’s clearly lot of love for Heathers The Musical, with many fans dressed up, and huge queues for merch and stage door. More than a show, this feels like an experience with a like-minded community.
Big Fun from start to finish, Heathers is So Very good.
Honey, what you waiting for? Book now!
Heathers The Musical runs at Leeds Grand Theatre until September 5th, before continuing the UK tour. Book at https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/heathers-2026/
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 