Theatre Royal Brighton – 2nd-13th December 2025
5 stars
Here and Now: The Steps Musical lands at Theatre Royal Brighton this week, ready to give the audience a properly Steptacular night out. From the moment the lights go up, it’s clear the show isn’t pretending to be anything other than a big warm hug of pop nostalgia.
What’s nice is that it doesn’t just glue songs together and hope for the best. It actually tries to build a story around them, and the Steps back catalogue fits into it far more naturally than you’d think. Those lyrics you once shouted on the school run or at a club night suddenly reveal a bit of heart.
The musical follows a group of supermarket workers, each at a turning point in their lives. There are romances stalling and restarting, doubts creeping in and people quietly dreaming of something different. It’s not pretending to be serious drama, but the plot gives the songs enough room to breathe and the characters feel like people you might actually bump into in the frozen food aisle.
Lara Denning leads the cast as Caz and she’s fantastic. Her powerful voice fills the room and she carries the emotional weight of the show with real warmth. Heartbeat and Better Best Forgotten both give her plenty to play with and she never misses a note.
Jacqui Dubois brings a gorgeous depth to Vel, her velvety tone and emotional performance making every line feel lived in. Rosie Singha is a delight as Neeta, bouncing around the stage with playful charm and a beautiful singing voice. Blake Patrick Anderson brings a mix of strength and softness to Robbie, easily selling both his big moments.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star River Medway is brilliant as Jem. Their big number, Chain Reaction, is one of the show’s standout scenes, complete with dazzling costumes and disco ball washing machines that look like they’ve rolled in from another galaxy.
The music stays close to the Steps originals, just polished enough for the stage and the choreography tips its hat to the classic moves without sliding into full tribute territory. The supermarket setting is surprisingly clever too, turning everyday aisles into a fun playground for the story.
By the time the finale rolls around, the audience is on its feet for a Steps megamix. Here and Now is packed with heart, fun and sparkle, never taking itself too seriously, making it the perfect pre-Christmas treat.
