Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – until 31st January 2026
Reviewed by Jacqui Radford
5*****
The Buddy Holly Story, an award -winning show has been delighting audiences since 1989. Billed as a musical, it tells the story of Buddy Holly’s rise to rock ‘n’ roll fame before his untimely death, aged just 22.
The style of the production is such that it reminds the audience of the context around Buddy’s arrival on the music scene and some of the poignant moments along the way, but these are more incidental to the performance than central to it. The ‘wow factor’ lies in the immersive experience provided by each rendition of Buddy’s hits.
The cast in this show are truly electric, building the pace towards the finale using a bewitching mix of musical talent, humourous displays and energetic celebration of the cultural influence and importance of music. Through the course of the show, the audience gradually warms from spectator status to near fan status.
A J Jenks (Buddy Holly) delivers a fantastic portrayal of a man immortalised as inspirational, convincingly elevating glasses to ‘must have’. Other notable figures and influencers in Buddy’s path to fame are woven throughout the entire show and played by Miguel Angel (Ritchie Valens), Joshua Barton (The Big Bopper). Equally, Laura-Dene Perryman, playing Marlene Madison reminds us that Buddy and his support band broke onto the scene against a backdrop of rock ‘n’ roll being the genre that was introduced by Black artists.
In essence, this show is less of a musical and more of a tribute to Buddy Holly (and The Crickets), the music its enduring legacy. As you leave the auditorium, it’s hard to conceal the smile on your face and the ‘feel good’ factor. There is so much joy in shared music and inter-generational enjoyment of something that is widely acknowledged as iconic.