Birmingham Hippodrome until 28th February 2026
Reviewed by Emma Millward
5*****
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical arrived in Birmingham last night, continuing its UK tour. I should confess that I went in as a complete newcomer to the Percy Jackson universe. I have never read Rick Riordan’s novels or seen the subsequent movies. I was a little worried that I would be lost or not understand what was happening. I needn’t have worried, as the first few minutes clearly set up the narrative of the show. This adaptation was written by Joe Tracz with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki.
Percy Jackson (Vasco Emauz), a teenage boy with ADHD and dyslexia, has been kicked out of numerous schools. He discovers he is the half-blood son of the Greek god, Poseidon. When his mortal mother, Sally (Simone Robinson in one of many roles) is attacked by a Minotaur, Percy is knocked unconscious and wakes at Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for the children of Greek gods. He soon embarks on a quest with his friends Grover (Cahir O’Neill), a half-goat satyr, and Annabeth (Kayna Montecillo), the daughter of Athena, to recover Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt and hopefully prevent war breaking out between the gods.
Vasco Emauz captures Percy’s confusion, frustration and eventual new-found confidence with sincerity. Kayna Montecillo’s Annabeth is sharp and commanding, while Cahir O’Neill brings warmth and well-timed humour as Grover. Together, the trio’s obvious chemistry makes their friendship believable. The supporting cast, including Ellie Grace Cousins, Joseph Conner, Niall Sheehy and Paolo Micaleff all shift effortlessly between gods, monsters and mortals. My personal favourite was Danny Beard as perpetually exasperated Camp Half-Blood Director Mr D (or Dionysus), the Greek god of wine and drama. Clad in a huge orange quiff wig and a blue sparkly suit, Mr D is a sight to behold. Although my eyes were naturally drawn to Beard, they never overshadowed the onstage action and they clearly relished playing such a gloriously larger-than-life character.
Rob Rokicki’s pop-rock score, performed by a talented five piece band led by musical director Will Jay, propels the show along. With 22 songs packed into a two-hour show, the music rarely lets the pace drop. Under the direction of Lizzi Gee, the show embraces its concert-like vitality and never takes itself too seriously. Gee’s choreography is also sharply executed, making full use of Ryan Dawson Laight’s industrial set design. The set features metal scaffolding, movable platforms and a huge central circular screen that is used for video designer Matt Powell’s projections. Richard Pinner’s illusions integrate seamlessly with Tom Deiling’s lighting bringing mythological elements vividly to life.
During the evening, I also discovered there are theatre audiences, and then there are ‘Percy Jackson audiences’. At times it felt less like a touring production and more like a live concert. The hardcore fans in the crowd clearly love Percy, and loved to show it, with cheers, clapping and screams at the mere sight of certain characters or even props in some cases. Thankfully, this adoration never became too distracting.
Mythic, magical, and unforgettable. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is a must-see for newcomers and die-hard fans alike.