Defying Gravity – West End Women Review

Darlington Hippodrome – 1 September 2024 and on a UK tour

5****

When Baby fairypowered saw this show advertised we knew we needed to buy tickets for it.  What’s not to like – songs from the shows sung by the stars of the shows – a perfect fairypowered family night out!

And what a night out!  Not just a brilliant show (more on that later) but a female empowered show, with an all women cast and creative – perfect.

The four fabulous females: Michelle Pentecost, Maggie Lynne, Tasha Sheridan and Jodie Nolan sang some of the greatest female powerful anthems of the past and present.  Some charged with high emotion (Me and the Sky from Come from Away) or showing leadership (Candy Store from Heathers). Featuring shows such as Waitress, Evita, Blood Brothers, Carousel, Les Miserables, Six, and of course Wicked.  All emphasising that there can be some strong female parts. Between the shows the women discussed such things as juggling motherhood and working, auditioning, casting brackets and their favourite shows – both what they’ve worked on and what they would like to work on – fingers crossed they get their wish. The all women band supporting them were equally fantastic and I am sorry I didn’t catch your names.

This is a fairly new show and has the capacity to grow.  There are some outstanding female stars out there and this could be an ever changing cast and creative, bringing a different sparkle to an already excellent starting point.  

I look forward to seeing this show continue to grow and really look forward to seeing it again.