Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 20 September 2025
Reviewed by Jo Gordon
5*****
Hold on to your brollies—Mary Poppins has landed at the Mayflower Theatre, and she’s bringing a whirlwind of magic, music, and mayhem in the most delightful way! Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular stage version of the Disney classic is bursting with energy, heart, and jaw-dropping theatrical wizardry. If you’re looking for a feel-good night out that will leave you smiling all the way home, this is it.
From the moment Mary Poppins floats down from the sky , the audience is spellbound. This isn’t just a retelling of the beloved 1964 film-it’s bigger, brighter, and packed with even more surprises.
With a smart, thoughtful script by Julian Fellowes, the original songs you know and love from the Sherman Brothers, and catchy new tunes by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the show keeps you entertained from start to finish.
Stefanie Jones is practically perfect in every way as Mary Poppins. She brings just the right mix of no-nonsense nanny and magical mischief-maker. Whether she’s gliding up a staircase, tidying a room with a snap of her fingers, or singing the unforgettable song “Feed the Birds” with the glorious Patti Boulaye (which makes my eyes damp every time!), she commands the stage with grace and sparkle.
Jack Chambers plays Bert with buckets of charm and boundless energy. He taps, twirls, and even walks upside down in one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the night. His cheeky grin and quick-footed moves during “Step in Time” had the audience cheering.
The Banks family’s journey is also at the heart of this story, and it’s given real emotional weight. The children, Jane and Michael, are wonderfully cast and full of personality, while George and Winifred Banks are given a deeper story that adds a lovely, touching layer to the fun not seen in the original.
Visually, the show is a treat. Bob Crowley’s sets are magical! Watch as the Banks’ house unfolds like a giant doll’s house, or as a park bursts into full colour during “Jolly Holiday.”
The choreography by Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear is packed with pizzazz. “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” is a high-energy, tongue-twisting explosion of movement that has the whole ensemble firing on all cylinders. It’s impossible not to grin.
Mary Poppins is everything you could want in a night at the theatre: magical, funny, heartfelt, and full of moments that will make you gasp, laugh, and maybe even shed a tear. I defy anyones inner child not to be totally in awe of the beautiful moment Mary flys up and over the audience, I’ve witnessed this many times yet each is like the first … and I make no apologies for the reactions of my 5 year old self!
If you’ve got children take them! If you are an adult in need of some magic in current times grab a ticket, even better maybe book that day off to go fly a kite!