Sing Street ★★★★★ Lyric Hammersmith Theatre | Jul 8 - Aug 23, 2025


Dublin in the 1980s is a dreary place! Conor's dad is out of work, and the boy is being reluctantly moved to a new school called Synge Street where he becomes a bullied outsider. Meanwhile, Conor's mother is acting strangely, and his brother hasn't left the house for four years. And then, there's this girl whom Conor would like to impress. What's the solution to all of these problems? Maybe it's getting together with some other misfits from the school and starting a band along the lines of Duran Duran. Love, fame, and fortune may only be a few tunes away. Based on the film of the same name, John Carney's nostalgic look at adolescent alienation and aspiration makes a triumphant transition to the stage. Sheridan Townsley is totally convincing as the naive dreamer, Conor, who falls for Grace Collender's Raphina, and she rings touchingly true as the abused child who strives to appear streetwise. The power of Sing Street very much depends on the credibility of this central love story, and in this case the chemistry completely works. However, the allure of Enda Walsh's tale, also has its roots in the re-creation of a time and place and the complexity of its secondary characters. Despite the fact that some of the nuancing and development seem unnecessarily lost in this musical version, there still remains a sufficiently strong characterisation of the other personalities in the story to keep things interesting. However, it is that emphasis on the centrality of the love story which makes the conclusion somewhat curious. The sudden shift of focus from Conor to his reclusive brother, Brendan, at the denouement seems rather awkward. Although the latter has acted as the young Romeo's romantic and musical mentor, the anticipated conclusion would seem to have been the resolution of the lovers' saga. As well as Walsh's story, however, what makes Sing Street stand out is the music. With eight songs having been retained from the original 2016 film, Gary Clark and John Carney have added four new numbers to the stage version. The highlight is the extraordinary "Dream for You" which, although originally written for the film, was ultimately cut. The result is a score that is uplifting and unforgettable. The 1980s in Dublin might have been dismal, but its evocation in Sing Street is delightful!

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Manuel Harlan

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL, UK

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