The Lightning Thief
This new musical is making its UK debut at The Other Palace, based on the novels by Rick Riordan this show takes the first in the series ‘The Lightning Thief’ and has adapted it to the stage. It follows Percy Jackson, a teenager struggling to find his place in the world around him, as he learns of his ‘half-blood’ status and that he is in fact the son of a God. He goes on a quest given to him by the gods to find Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt, the fate of the world rests on his shoulders, this is an electrifying story with lots of twists and turns.
This adaptation by Rob Rokicki and Joe Tracz is a coming-of-age story told with heart and humour. This is a show with more high points than low, it’s got a peppy high energy vibe reminiscent of a teen musical, but at times the energy drops, and it becomes slow and is a struggle to watch and stay engaged. As someone who had no knowledge of the books or films I was often lost at the overly complicated story. The overall feel is inconsistent and slightly muddled throughout. It must be said though, this show does not take itself too seriously, it is fun, light-hearted and best of all it’s camp!
The songs are well written by Rob Rokicki, the larger group numbers stand out as the most enjoyable. This is very much a teen musical and that comes across in the style of the music. It’s loud and high energy with strong beats and catchy lyrics. In particular ‘D.O.A’ stands out as a great song with a fun disco feel to it. The closing number ‘Bring On The Monsters’ is one that will definitely be stuck in your head long after the show has ended.
The Other Palace is one of the smaller theatre spaces in London but designer Ryan Dawson Laight has absolutely made the most of the space available to them. With an industrial rough feel to it, and use of different levels you are fully immersed into the world of the story. Some of the props feel a little cheap but somehow this actually adds to the charm of the piece and enhances the ‘rough around the edges’ feel.
In a story about Gods, Half-Bloods and Mythological creatures the illusions are so important, and they are executed brilliantly here. They are for the most part simple yet very effective using projections, lighting and haze to their advantage. Richard Pinner has created some wonderful magic which does perplex and delight the audience.
The cast is led by Max Harwood as Percy. Max does a wonderful job of bringing this awkward, reserved introvert teenager to life. Max makes Percy feel relatable and you are behind him the entire way. The supporting cast are incredibly strong in this show, particularly Paisley Billings who gets to show off her diverse range both in song and acting. Joe Allen shows what a fantastic character actor they are as multiple hilarious characters, Mr D was my favourite thanks to the comedy brought to the forefront by Joe.
If you’re a fan of the original Percy Jackson universe, this is a show you will enjoy. It might not quite be a show worthy of the Gods, but it’s still one worth seeing none-the-less.
This show was reviewed on the 28th November 2024 at The Other Palace, London where it runs until the 2nd March 2025. Tickets available here: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical - The Other Palace Theatre
Review written by Rosie Browne
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Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
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