REVIEW | Strictly Ballroom UK Tour

★★★ .5

Review by Roni Hughes.

A gloomy and wet Halloween night means that audiences arriving at the Birmingham Hippodrome are all the more appreciative of the glitz and warmth awaiting Strictly Ballroom. After a 15-minute delay on the start of the show, we’re finally allowed the take our seats while cheesy 80’s dance is piped into the auditorium. This is the first time Strictly Ballroom has toured the UK, postponed by the pandemic following productions in Leeds and the West End respectively.

Based on the original movie by Baz Lurhmann, Strictly Ballroom follows a group of Australian amateur ballroom dancers as they compete in various competitions. Our leading man is Scott Hastings, played here by former Strictly Come Dancing pro Kevin Clifton. Scott is frustrated with ballroom rules and wishes to dance his own steps, much to the chagrin of everyone at his dance school, including his mother, coach and his partner Liz, who refuses to compete with him further and defects to partner with another.

‘Beginner’ Fran, played by Eastenders star and 2021 Strictly Come Dancing finalist Maisie Smith, is the only one willing to dance his way, but they must battle against those close to them, including head of the federation Barry Fife, if they stand a chance of winning the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix with their fiery Paso Doble. Essentially (whisper it folks), this is Dirty Dancing if it were set down under. Unfortunately, the script here does feel slightly clunky, with a rushed plotline that gives us (and them) very little time to invest in our leads as a couple. Some of the original music also leaves a lot to be desired lyrically. This feels like a huge shame as there is a lot of potential, especially with this stellar cast.

©EllieKurttz

Choreography is by Craig Revel Horwood himself and my GOD does it shine. Whether it’s the classic ballroom moves or Scott and Fran’s passionate steps, every sequence is breathtaking, and exquisitely executed.

The Act One finale is arguably the stand-out moment of the entire show, where the dancing speaks volumes and requires nothing else.

A lot of credit is due to the ensemble cast, who maintain the standard throughout the whole show and provide us with plenty to watch. Gary Davis as Barry Fife provides numerous laugh out loud moments that are delivered perfectly. Kevin Clifton, obviously, gives a flawless dancing performance, but a huge round of applause must go to Maisie Smith. This is her theatre debut, and few are thrust into such a choreography heavy leading role on their first go, but Maisie carries it effortlessly. Strictly Come Dancing has clearly done her well, as you’d struggle to separate her from the seasoned pros. Her acting is wonderful, if slightly giddy at times, and there is a real chemistry between her and Clifton that speaks of them being great friends behind the scenes. Her voice is also incredible, with a gorgeous tone which may take a few by surprise. Likewise, Kevin plays arrogance very well.

©EllieKurttz

Sadly, the performance here is lacking in some areas. It felt as though there were a few technical struggles, meaning a lot of the action was poorly lit or sometimes not at all, and mic cues were missed so often that a lot of the ensemble dialogue was lost, which is a real shame. The direction also seems to have gone in a very loud direction, with a lot of shouting and screaming. This eventually gets quite grating, and detracts from the heart of the story when ‘passion’ is presented as unnecessary angst. It really feels as though the show as a whole could benefit from a slightly slower pace and a few script reworks to give us a break from the onslaught of what should be sporadic explosive moments.

Overall, this is a piece of theatre with a lot of potential. It is carried by its fantastic cast and stunning choreography, but is let down slightly by a script and direction that could use some revision. Still, this is a feel-good show peppered with well-known music which will have audiences leaving with smiles on their faces regardless.

Strictly Ballroom is touring across the UK & Ireland until July 2023. Ticket information is available here.