| Here & Now | |
|---|---|
| The Steps Musical | |
 Original production poster | |
| Music | Various |
| Lyrics | Various |
| Book | Shaun Kitchener |
| Basis | The songs of Steps |
| Premiere | 9 November 2024: The Alexandra, Birmingham |
| Productions | 2024 Birmingham 2025 UK and Ireland tour |
Here & Now is a jukebox musical with a book by Shaun Kitchener based on the songs of the British pop group Steps. It premiered on 9 November 2024.
On 26 January 2024, it was announced that the musical will have its world premiere at The Alexandra, Birmingham beginning previews on 9 November, with a gala night on 19 November (with Steps appearing and performing during the Finale Megamix), running until 30 November 2024, after being extended from 24 November due to popular demand. It became the venue's fastest-selling show in its history, with 50% of seats sold in the first 24 hours. [1] The show is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh with choreography by Matt Cole, set designed by Tom Rogers, lighting designed by Howard Hudson, costumes designed by Gabriella Slade, sound design by Adam Fisher, Wigs, Hair and Makeup design by Sam Cox, and casting by Will Burton. Musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements are by Matt Spencer-Smith. It is produced by Steps, ROYO and Pete Waterman. [2] [3] [4] Initial principle casting for the world premiere was announced on 18 July 2024, [5] with the full cast revealed on 4 September 2024. [6]
During the finale of the Birmingham gala night, Steps announced that the musical will embark on a UK and Ireland tour beginning at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 29 August 2025, before an official opening at the Manchester Opera House. It is then set to visit King's Theatre, Glasgow; Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; Cliffs Pavilion, Southend; New Victoria Theatre, Woking; His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen; Theatre Royal, Newcastle; New Wimbledon Theatre; Theatre Royal, Nottingham; Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield; Liverpool Empire Theatre; Theatre Royal, Brighton; Globe Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees; Mayflower Theatre, Southampton; Grand Opera House, Belfast; Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff; Grand Opera House, York; New Theatre Oxford; Edinburgh Playhouse; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton; Hall for Cornwall, Truro; Theatre Royal, Plymouth; Milton Keynes Theatre; Opera House Theatre, Blackpool; Theatre Royal, Norwich; Hull New Theatre; Curve, Leicester and Grand Theatre, Leeds before finishing at Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury in May 2026. [7] [8] Initial principle casting for the tour was announced on 22 May 2025. [9]
At the seaside supermarket Better Best Bargains, employee Caz is elated that she and her husband Gareth have been approved to adopt a child. Her friends Vel, Neeta and Robbie are in awe at how her life is perfect, so - in lieu of a present for her upcoming 50th birthday - she challenges them to ‘take a chance on a happy ending’ for themselves and have the Summer of Love they've been dreaming of: Vel must end her loveless relationship, Neeta must confess her feelings to her workplace crush Ben, and Robbie must learn to give potential boyfriends a chance without finding tiny reasons to push them away. However, when Gareth tells Caz he is ending their marriage, meaning the adoption is ruined, her own 'happy ending' is in tatters and she must follow her own advice. When she puts her faith in the wrong person and jeopardises the entire store's future, the friends' Summer of Love is at risk of becoming a Tragedy.
As performed during the world premiere run in Birmingham: [10]
|
|
| Character | Birmingham | UK & Ireland Tour |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2025-2026 | |
| Caz | Rebecca Lock | |
| Vel | Sharlene Hector | Jacqui Dubois |
| Robbie | Blake Patrick Anderson | |
| Neeta | Hiba Elchikhe | Rosie Singha |
| Ben | Dan Partridge | Ben Darcy |
| Jem | River Medway | |
| Patricia | Finty Williams | |
| Gareth | Gary Milner | Chris Grahamson |
| Tracey | Helen Colby | Lauren Woolf |
| Max | Edward Baker-Duly | |
| Lesley | John Stacey | |
The November 2024 premiere run in Birmingham received critical acclaim. Awarding four stars out of five, Attitude critic Jamie Tabberer called it "utterly steptacular", praising its "pristine staging, an inspired story, emotional depth and songs reframed so as to be revelatory". [11] The Stage writer Matthew Hemley also gave four stars, praising Rebecca Lock for "[bringing] the house down". [12] In another four-star review, The Sun critic Howell Davies praised the "emotional storyline of love, loss and friendship", as well as the "fabulous and silly" tone. He added that "this has the potential to become the biggest jukebox hit since Mamma Mia!". [13] In her four-star critique, Whatsonstage's Diane Parkes called it "foot kickin’, finger clickin’, leather slapping, hand clappin’". [14] All That Dazzles editor Daz Gale gave a five-star review, saying: "This steptacular musical may well have broken my star system as I truly feel it deserves more than five stars - it deserves 5, 6, 7, 8 of them." [15] The publication also listed the show as the second-best of 2024, behind only the London revival of Hello, Dolly!. [16] The show also received five-star reviews from blogs including Theatre And Tonic, [17] Black Country Radio, [18] LondonTheatre1, [19] Curtain Call Reviews, [20] Brum Hour, [21] Things We Enjoy, [22] Fairy Powered Productions, [23] and What's On. [24]
For the launch of the UK and Ireland tour in September 2025, The Guardian awarded four stars out of five. Calling the show "endlessly entertaining", critic Michael Cragg said it "reminded me of Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies, only spiked with the energy of a Zumba class". [25] Gay Times critic Chris Selman also awarded four stars out of five, calling it "a fun, feel-good and fabulous night out". [26]