Millennials ★★★★ The Other Palace | Jul 8 - Aug 7, 2022


The stage is shaped like a large avocado and the audience is seated in bean bag chairs or lying in a ball pit. There are lots of little rubber ducks and Slinkys, and The Other Palace studio theatre is awash in pink. Set and lighting designer, Andrew Exeter, has created the perfect generational cocoon for the staging of Elliot Clay's pop song cycle Millennials. From Luke Bayer's touching first number in which he self-consciously reflects on his anxiety about being on stage, we are drawn into a world of doubt, disappointment and self-questioning that seems to characterise the generation born between 1981 and 1996. We have come a long way from the anthem of rebellion, optimism and assertion that was that other great generational musical, Hair. In her lovely rendition of "Masterpiece" Hannah Lowther makes almost a plea to be valued, and while Georgina Onuorah does a great job of rousing the audience there is always an undertone of sadness. Indeed, the haunting musings about broken love affairs and Luke Latchman's wry contrasting of his current life with that of his former school bully simply affirm the theme of aspiration and disillusion that is woven through the piece. For us, a definite highlight was Rob Madge's hilarious "Four Little Words." Its commentary on the ultimate sin of this generation, when self-awareness becomes self-absorption, was spot on. All in all, Millennials has both insight and humour. It captures the challenges faced by its demographic, but in the end, also proudly proclaims their resilience.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Mark Senior.

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

When, Where, Getting there:

Most Popular

St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

Good Night, Oscar ★★★★ Barbican Centre | Jul 31 - Sep 21, 2025

The Daughter of Time ★★★ Charing CrossTheatre | Jul 18 - Sep 13, 2025

Brigadoon ★★★★ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | Aug 2 - Sep 20, 2025

Every Brilliant Thing (with Lenny Henry) ★★★ @sohoplace | Aug 1 - Nov 8, 2025

Saving Mozart ★★ The Other Palace | Jul 28 - Aug 30, 2025

Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby ★★★ Sadler's Wells Theatre | August 5 - 16, 2025

The Diana Mixtape ★★★ HERE at Outernet | Jul 28 - Aug 10, 2025

A Role To Die For ★★★★ Marylebone Theatre | Jul 26 - Aug 30, 2025

Inter Alia ★★★★★ National Theatre | Jul 10 - Sep 13, 2025

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings