Hercules
Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the perfect home for Disney’s Hercules, a vibrant, heroic, gospel-infused adaptation of the film and original book.
The show is an absolute feast for the senses. Gregg Barnes’ shimmering costumes and Dane Laffrey’s monumental, Grecian sets conjure a world where ancient mythology meets modern Broadway. When the Muses descend, clad in gold lamé and pure attitude the house lifts. This quintet of soul-singing goddesses (Candace Furbert, Sharlene Hector, Brianna Ogunbawo, Malinda Parris, Robyn Rose‑Li) don’t just narrate the tale, they own every inch of that god damn stage, infusing the show with gospel fire and righteous joy. Their rendition of “Zero to Hero” is a high-octane showstopper that all but brings down the theatre.
Luke Brady as the titular Hercules brings a gentle sincerity and likability to the demigod-in-training, he is loveable and the audience are routing for him every step of the way. Mae Ann Jorolan is a slinky standout, injecting smoky sarcasm and real vulnerability into the snarky heroine. Her ‘I Won’t Say’ (I’m In Love) was a highlight, the clever staging and vocals were perfect, even if there were unnecessary lyric changes to the classic we all know and love.
On the comic front, Stephen Carlisle’s portrayal of Hades goes full panto villain, with a purple pompadour and glittery suit. It’s fun, if campy, but one can’t help feeling the devilish humour didn’t quite hit the mark, there was definitely more that could be done with this character. Trevor Dion Nicholas gives a spirited, gruffly lovable turn as Phil, Hercules’ satyr mentor.
Directed by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin) this production has energy to spare and a divine sense of style. Yet for all its dazzle and divine vocals I still couldn’t help feeling a little underwhelmed. You can see elements of all the other big smash hit Disney musicals in this one, which I guess works wonders for the brand but I was hoping for something new and exciting so this show could sit up there with the greats!
Although it's colourful and clearly has a big budget, I think it falls short due to the fact it's all very fast paced and the characters rarely linger long enough to let emotional stakes build. The new songs written by Alan Menken and David Zippel slot in nicely but don’t soar like the originals. They feel more like fillers than standout moments.
Still, there’s something infectiously fun about Hercules. It may not achieve the mythic greatness of Disney’s best stage adaptations (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast) but it is fun and feel good and thoroughly entertaining. By the final curtain, the audience is on its feet, not just in applause, but in awe. Hercules is a shiny, family friendly show that wears its heart (and sandals) proudly. It reminds us that strength isn’t just physical it’s the courage to keep going, even when the emotional script isn't quite there, but that being said Hercules is worth seeing for the Muses alone.
This production as reviewed on the 25th June 2025 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London where it's currently running until the 28th March 2026. Get your tickets here: Disney's Hercules Musical Tickets | Theatre Royal Drury Lane | LW Theatres
Review written by Sam Sadler
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Photo credit : Johan Persson/Matt Crockett
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