Hercules ★★★★ Theatre Royal Drury Lane | Jun 6, 2025 - Mar 28, 2026


Disney fans will be delighted. The latest in the company's series of animated films to be translated to the stage is now in London. And, everything they want and expect to see is here. There are some extraordinary special effects, a plethora of silly gags and a simplistic plot in which, unsurprisingly, good triumphs over evil. Plus, our hero learns some life lessons. Every box in the money-making formula is neatly ticked and all the usual suspects are present! In this story the feisty female character, a relatively new addition to the recipe, makes her requisite appearance as Meg played by Mae Ann Jorolan. She is joined by Trevor Dion Nicholas who acts as the silly sidekick, Phil, mentor to young Hercules (Luke Brady).The over-the top villain, outrageously overplayed by Stephen Carlile, is Hades, and in his nefarious scheming, he is abetted by his two comic henchmen, Bob and Charles (Craig Gallivan and Lee Zarrett). In addition to this set of the standard personae, we also have a soulful chorus of Muses. Their channelling of The Supremes into Hercules' predictable journey to adulthood, for us, was the high point of the show. In this version of the stock story, the backdrop is the Greek myths, rather than the wilds of Africa, and a lot of the hilarity comes from the anachronistic treatment of these myths. However, it is all just an excuse for a lot of good old Yankee Doodle spectacle. Unfortunately, one can't help comparing this latest iteration of the franchise to some of its triumphs like The Lion King, which is still running in London. In this case, the songs just don't measure up to Elton John's soaring score, and for all their glitz and glamour the costumes can't touch the imaginative creations of Julie Taymor. Also, the tale never really touches the heart in the way Simba's odyssey does. No doubt, Hercules will delight the children, and it provides hard-core Disney fanatics with their needed fix. However, like the eponymous film, it doesn't really stand up when compared to the great classics the company has produced.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Johan Persson

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Catherine St, London WC2B 5JF, UK

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