Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – until 18th July 2026
Reviewed by Alison Beaumont
3***
Summer Holiday is a 1960’s inspired musical adapted from the iconic Cliff Richard film of the same name. The story follows Don, a bus mechanic and his friends who convert a double-decker bus into a mobile home to embark on a European adventure. They bump into a musical trio called Do Re Mi and offer to help them by taking them to Athens. During the journey they come across a stow away who tries to disguise themselves as Bobby but really, they are a famous singer called Barbara. Barbara’s mum tracks Barbara down and tries to stop the bus on its travels.
Don played by George Jones had the biggest feet to fill stepping into the role played by Sir Cliff Richard himself. The best song for me from George was Batchelor Boy.
Fanta Barrie took on the role of Barbara and vocally did the job well. I would have like to have heard her sing something that she could have belted out to emphasize her singing capability.
The show itself had the audience laughing, although I’m not quite sure if this was down to the audience finding it funny or laughing at the daftness of the show from card board cut outs of landmarks to a little remote control bus whizzing round the stage.
The set itself was simple with bus seats being moved around by the cast members. A car did come up through the stage floor with the Do Re Mi trio in it but to me I think the bus should have been the main feature to wow the audience.
All the cast seemed to enjoy themselves and worked well together and had lots of energy. They sang really well together, often better than individually. They are talented and alongside singing they played multiple instruments.
The second half of the show was much better than the first half and the show did end on a high with everyone up and dancing to Do You Wanna Dance. I think this show could definitely divide the audience with some finding it brilliant and others feeling like it was missing something.