Tuesday 1st September 2026 at Leeds Grand Theatre
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High School is for surviving rather than thriving when it comes to Westberg High – unless of course you’re an it-girl Heather. Heathers The Musical is “mythic bitch” central, following the toxic dynamics amidst the usual cliques that define teenhood. With book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, and based on the 1988 film by Daniel Waters, this show is darkly comic and ultimately, despite its heightened style and eccentric plot, it’s a fantastic vehicle for casts with epic voices.
Gerardine Sacdalan is Veronica Sawyer – the nobody adopted by the it-girls after proving herself useful to their schemes. Sacdalan is a phenomenal talent and she carries the show with ease, nailing her character arc of innocence to moral muddiness as she explores a darker side – and all while belting the killer songs in this musical to the high heavens. It’s a hell of a performance.
And she’s flanked by brilliant cast mates, including the superb Louis Hearsey as the bad influence, J.D, boasting a brilliant voice that owns the space with its intensity, and the powerhouse that is Liberty Stotter – Queen Bitch of the Heathers squad with pipes just as powerful and impressive as her withering glare and comedic flair. Lou Henry and Jessica Ibadin are excellent as the additional Heathers – funny in their mindlessness but always impressive with their voices. Sophie Manners wins hearts easily as the lovable, much-wronged Martha Dunnstock (also boasting a beautiful, powerful voice) and Markus Södergren and Beau Jackson are a cracking comic duo as the numbskull jocks Kurt and Ram.
In short, this is a show as sharply drilled and perfected as a Heather’s performative hair toss; Andy Fickman’s direction is impeccable. Gary Lloyd’s choreography is a constant source of spectacle, pivoting on a real love affair with synchronised and canon movement, while David Shields’ designs pick up on iconic costuming and classic high school visuals in all the right ways. And the music is really special – winning with comedy numbers like “Candy Store” and “My Dead Gay Son” but absolutely “slaying” when it comes to the powerhouse numbers, including “Dead Girl Walking”, “I Say No” and “Our Love is God”.
This is my second round of Heathers The Musical and I have to say, it seems to be the kind of show that demands incredibly strong casts to carry it thanks to its powerful, varied score alongside such a finely-tuned merging of comedy and heightened teenage drama. With that in mind, I’d say it’s pretty much always going to be worth seeing Heathers – and it is particularly worth seeing with this current cast!
Heathers The Musical is at Leeds Grand Theatre until September 5th – more information and tickets can be found here.
Always Time For Theatre 
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