The Lightning Thief

Even if you’ve never cracked open a Percy Jackson book, this show still has plenty to offer. It follows a troublesome sixteen-year-old who discovers that his long-lost father is none other than Poseidon, God of the Sea. As a half-blood — born of both mortal and godly worlds — Percy must navigate powers he barely understands while embarking on a daring quest to the underworld to restore peace to Mount Olympus.

Visually, the production is impactful. Ryan Dawson Laight’s set design, a fusion of rusted, industrial structures, becomes a playground of possibilities — reimagined and repurposed in clever ways throughout. Although, his costume designs, while thoughtful, don’t quite reach the same level of creativity that the set and props achieve.

Lighting designer Tim Deiling brings intensity and clarity, using dynamic shifts and bursts of colour to transport the audience seamlessly between scenes.

At the heart of the show is Vasco Emauz as Percy Jackson, whose golden vocals glide through the demanding score with ease — his polished vibrato could make even Ben Platt nod in approval. Kayaa Montecillo is a standout as Annabeth, delivering a fierce, intelligent performance that gives young audiences a true hero to look up to.