ReviewsLatestMusicalHere & Now: The Steps Musical

Here & Now: The Steps Musical Review (Press Night, Theatre Royal Plymouth): a glittery jukebox musical that delivers big on nostalgia, but does it hit all the right notes?

Copyright: Cover and Included Images (Pamela Raith) UK Tour Photography 2026

We were delighted to have been invited by Theatre Royal Plymouth on Tuesday 24 March 2026. I have to admit, a guilty pleasure of mine is STEPS and my oh my, are fans in for a treat. Read on to find out more…

As an avid Steps fan, Here & Now: The Steps Musical should have been an easy win. And in many ways, it is: a vibrant, feel-good night packed with recognisable hits and plenty of camp energy. But despite its strong start and crowd-pleasing finale, this is a production that doesn’t quite maintain the momentum it promises.

There’s fun to be had here, just perhaps not quite as much as you’d hope.

Jukebox musicals are a tricky business. Get it right and you have a euphoric, crowd-pleasing night out. Get it wrong and you’re left with a thin story awkwardly stitched together between songs everyone already knows. Here & Now: The Steps Musical, now playing at Theatre Royal Plymouth (for one week only), lands somewhere confidently in the former camp, though not without a few familiar pitfalls along the way.

The Story

Set almost entirely within a seaside superstore, Here & Now follows Caz and her friends as relationships, tensions and buried emotions surface over the course of one pivotal summer.

It’s a familiar jukebox musical structure, and while the setting is bright and clearly defined, the storytelling itself feels fairly slight. The supermarket concept is fun and certainly distinctive, but at times it limits the sense of scale, leaving parts of the show feeling visually and narratively confined. Some of the lead-ins to songs are played a little too heavily, tipping into the unintentionally comical.

That said, the production leans confidently into its tone: light, camp and knowingly nostalgic. It’s not aiming for gritty realism, and instead sits comfortably in feel-good territory, with just enough emotional grounding to stop it drifting into pure pastiche.

Built around the back catalogue of Steps, the show delivers a mix of classic hits alongside newer material—something fans will particularly appreciate. From the moment the first recognisable beats kick in, the audience is firmly on side.

And that, ultimately, is the show’s greatest strength.

The Music & Choreography

The opening number sets the tone brilliantly it is high energy, confident and full of promise. It immediately gets the audience on side and suggests a show ready to fully embrace its pop legacy.

However, an early show stop on Press Night (while entirely understandable in live theatre) noticeably disrupted that momentum. From that point on, Act 1 struggles to fully recover its pace and energy.

Act 2 fares better, leaning more confidently into the show’s strengths.

There’s an undeniable buzz in the room throughout, with each hit song greeted like an old friend. Numbers such as 5, 6, 7, 8 and One for Sorrow land with maximum impact, helped by energetic choreography that nods to Steps’ iconic routines without becoming a straight tribute act.

As with many jukebox musicals, the integration of songs into the narrative can feel a little mechanical, with certain moments existing primarily as a set-up for the next big number. When the show pauses for emotional depth, it doesn’t always quite earn it.

And then comes the megamix.

Arriving after the curtain call, it’s the moment many will be waiting for and it absolutely delivers. The energy lifts instantly, the audience responds, and Theatre Royal Plymouth transforms into something closer to a Steps concert than a traditional musical. It’s a roof-raising finale and, for many, will be the lasting memory of the night.

CAST

Lara Denning (Caz) anchors the show with a performance that brings a welcome sense of sincerity amid the glitter and high camp. Denning is, quite simply, the glue that holds the entire show together.

Delivering powerhouse vocals alongside genuine emotional depth, she brings a level of sincerity that elevates the material around her. It’s a performance that stands out not just musically, but dramatically giving the show a much-needed centre.

Jacqui Dubois (Vel) brings a welcome injection of fun and flair to the production, combining strong, assured vocals with perfectly timed witty remarks that consistently land with the audience. It’s a performance that adds both energy and personality, particularly in moments that might otherwise feel transitional.

Blake Patrick Anderson (Robbie) connects effortlessly with the audience from the moment he steps on stage. There’s an easy charm to his performance that feels natural rather than forced, allowing him to hold attention even in quieter scenes and bringing a likeable warmth to the role.

River Medway (Jem) is undoubtedly a star in the making. Their Act 2 appearance as a glamorous, high-energy drag queen is one of the standout moments of the evening, bold, confident and hugely entertaining. It’s a performance that fully embraces the show’s camp sensibility and leaves a lasting impression long after the curtain call.

Elsewhere, the cast bring plenty of energy, but don’t always match that same level of vocal or emotional impact. As a result, the balance occasionally feels uneven, particularly in scenes where the material demands more than just enthusiasm.

That said, when it stops trying to be anything other than a full-throttle celebration of Steps’ music, it’s hugely entertaining. The design leans into bright, bold visuals that keep the pace moving, while the ensemble brings a consistent level of energy that carries the show through its quieter patches.

Set, Design & Atmosphere

Visually, the production is bright, colourful and unapologetically playful. The supermarket setting is packed with detail, right down to the surprisingly immersive scent of washing liquid drifting through the auditorium, a touch that feels entirely intentional given the rows of fabric conditioner bottles lining the stage.

However, while the design is fun, it can feel a little limiting. With much of the action confined to the same environment, there are moments where a greater sense of variety or imagination would have lifted the production further.

There’s no denying the appeal of Here & Now: The Steps Musical. It’s camp, it’s nostalgic, and it knows exactly who it’s for.

But where it falters is in consistency. The energy dips after a strong start, the storytelling never quite rises above functional, and the show relies heavily on its biggest musical moments to carry it through.

Fortunately, when those moments land, they really land.

Verdict

Here & Now: The Steps Musical is a fun, easy night out with flashes of brilliance, most notably in Lara Denning’s standout performance and a finale that sends the audience out on a high.

But as a full package, it lacks the sustained sparkle needed to truly elevate it. There was to us, a missed oppourtunity to be the next Mamma Mia, it has all the hallmarks but just didn’t fully deliver what it set out to be.

For Steps fans, there’s still plenty to enjoy. For others, it may feel like a show that never quite reaches the heights it promises.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (pushing ★★★★☆ for Denning alone)

This isn’t a jukebox musical that reinvents the form, but it doesn’t really try to. Instead, it delivers exactly what it promises: a fun, feel-good night packed with familiar hits, a dose of camp, and just enough heart to hold it together.

For Steps fans, it’s an easy recommendation. For everyone else, your enjoyment may depend on how much you value story over spectacle—but there’s no denying the sheer infectious energy on display.

Here & Now: The Steps Musical is here in Plymouth until Sunday 29 March 2026 so hurry or you might just miss it, the show continues to tour the UK into May 2026. Book Now!