Here and Now

Manchester Opera House

Gala Press Night - 04.09.2025
Curtain Up: 19:45
Curtain Down: 22:25

Plays until Sat 13th September 2025

‘HERE & NOW - The Steps Musical IS A SUPERMARKET SWEEP - 4****’

‘YOU’D BE OFF YOUR TROLLEY TO MISS THIS ONE!’

‘STOMP ON DOWN TO THE OPERA HOUSE FOR A STEPTACULAR TREAT!’

‘THE CAMPEST SHOW IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW!’

‘STEPS MUSICAL HAD THE AUDIENCE DANCING IN THE (shopping) AISLES!’

‘DON’T RUN…STOMP TO THE OPERA HOUSE!’

Tonight we were on the rather exclusive pink carpet for the Gala Night Premier of the new Steps Musical - HERE & NOW Palace Theatre & Opera House Manchester

The buzz outside & inside the Opera House was palpable tonight. It’s rare to literally feel the nostalgic buzz all around you - waiting in eager anticipation for the show to begin. Tonight was worth the hype that’s been building since the show 1st burst onto the Alexandra theatre stage in Birmingham last year. We caught a glimpse of what to expect at The National Lottery Big Night of Musicals back in January.

The story revolves around the team at Better Best Bargains supermarket. CAZ - Rebecca Lock is aproaching 50 and sets her closest mates a challenge to create a Summer of Love and to take a chance on romance. Will this succeed?! You’ll have to book and find out! She plays the role with gusto and works hard to sell every scene. We loved her enthusiasm and boy can she belt out the fun Steps back catalogue but also shines in her tender moments which we were not expecting. Rebecca really is the glue that keeps the musical on track.

Full comedic force arrives on stage from the get-go with PATRICIA - Finty Williams the annoying boss. What a fun part to play.

VEL - Jacques Dubois as long serving supermarket worker has her moment to shine and we wanted to give her an extra song!

ROBBIE - played by Blake Patrick Anderson has a strong, likeable tone and we loved his comedic interactions with JEM - Ru Paul’s - River Medway. Super talented and River has the CAMPEST moment in musical theatre globally right now - & ate up the supermarket stage….& left no crumbs! GO RIVER! It was great that Manchester’s great & good from the drag scene were in the stalls supporting her.

The show is high energy. It really is a visual feast with the supermarket theme emblazoned with thousand’s of l-e-d lights. It feels like the stage is powered by its own power station with the amount of glittering lights on display! Props to lighting designer Howard Hudson.

Steps have been the soundtrack to my formative years so recalling each line to every song was massively nostalgic. The format is that of a juke box musical with several romances forming to create an epic ‘Summer of Love’ for the leads. We over heard an audience member describe it as ‘The Steps Mamma Mia’ - & you could draw similarities - but we really did love a lot about this show. We think it will do incredibly well up & down the country. Steps fans will adore it. Before the show began I turned to my partner & said ‘I hope Stomp is the 1st song’…. & it was. So I was happy from that moment on.

Having the 5 members of Steps perform at the MEGAMIX finale was the cherry on the top to complete this JUGGERNAUGHT of 90’s / 00’s nostalgia.

We left the theatre brimming from ear to ear. If you were a 90’s kid then we think you’ll feel the same way too. At 2 hours 45 mins inc a 20 min interval - some audience members had to leave to catch trains. Maybe a few snips here and there could assist with this.

Is the show ground-breaking - no. Is it a bubblegum-pop juke box musical at its finest - absolutely. You’re in for a great night at the theatre. In a world filled with juke box musicals…. This one stands out in all the right ways.

We award a strong 4**** as Steps fans will adore this show & can see the UK & IRELAND Tour being very successful as the show builds momentum.

The show plays until Sat 13th September before continuing its UK & Ireland Tour.

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/here-and-now-the-steps-musical/opera-house-manchester/