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- On June 26, 2025
Hercules has stormed into the West End after much anticipation and hype! The previews are officially over and the reviews are out. It’s been a mixed bag with the general consensus being it’s a spectacular visual show with amazing songs and dance. But the book hasn’t quite captured the heart and magic of the original story. Here’s the new West End musical Hercules Reviews Round-up
The Critics:
The Telegraph – ★★★★
“This fun-filled adaption has retained the Disney animation’s goofy knockabout humour and refusal to take itself seriously”
“Best of all, it boasts a truly heaven sent quintet of Muses who sashay their way through Alan Menken’s still radiant gospel-driven score with just the right amount of sass to make your average tween squeal in delight.”
“Luke Brady is an endearing wannabe hero, sporting a goofy grin worthy of Jim Carrey and singing the show’s stand out song Go The Distance with palpable tenderness. The beefed up character of Meg doesn’t come off so well”
“Nothing to scare the gods then, but for families with young children, an excellent tip for summer.”
Claire Allfree
The Evening Standard – ★★★
“This adaptation of the Disney film is slick with some fun songs but somewhat lacking in strength”
“Stephen Carlile’s outrageously camp, scene-stealing Hades gets all the best lines: “People die all the time: I should know, I kill them.””
“… the show chugs along agreeably enough, powered by the attitude and powerhouse vocals of the Muses.”
Nick Curtis
The Guardian – ★★★
“Luke Brady is an incredible singer, as Hercules navigates his journey between godliness and humanness with sidekick Phil”
“The cast around Brady is just as strong vocally, but breezy in their dialogue.”
“Go the Distance is a lovely solo by Hercules but you do not feel quite enough emotion from it. The upbeat numbers work better… there is astolidity to the story, as if an ancient tablet of stone has taken the place of a flesh and blood heart.”
“…in the second half Kwame Kwei-Armah and Robert Horn’s book gets funnier, Hercules turns goofier and his love story with Meg (Mae Ann Jorolan, cool cat to Brady’s golden retriever) grows in chemistry.”
Arifa Akbar
The Times – ★★★
“… it’s hard to work up much enthusiasm about Casey Nicholaw’s musclebound production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. True, the temperature rises whenever the five muses deliver hand-clapping gospel fervour”
“The good news, though, is that Trevor Dion Nicholas adds mischief as Hercules’ sidekick Phil”
“Stephen Carlile makes an authentically sneering villain as Hades: all hurt pride and flaring nostrils, he brings a touch of panto energy to the proceedings. Whenever he’s on stage, the script co-written by Robert Horn and our own Kwame Kwei-Armah starts to crackle.”
Clive Davis
WhatsOnStage – ★★★
“Hercules, the latest arrival, has all the qualities associated with the brand: it’s slick, it’s colourful, it’s energetic.”
“Hercules smiles at every opportunity and has a nice line in cheek, while Meg enlivens each scene in which she appears.”
“Best of all are the five Muses, who combine magnificent gospel-riffed singing with plenty of humour and knowing sass.”
TimeOut – ★★★
“While there’s a vague nod to Hellenistic art, there were endless opportunities to have done something visually audacious and aesthetically interesting, and they were all passed upon.”
“All that accepted, it’s a sturdy action-adventure romp that absolutely does the trick and is eminently worth taking The Kids to during the hols.”
“It has charm, because it’s adapted from a charming film and talented people have made it, but it’s definitely not going to go down in legend.”
Andrzej Lukowski
RadioTimes – ★★★★★
“This lustre-dusted show-stopper of a musical is everything you could want. Spangled, joyous and gloriously camp”
“The sets are bigger than you could possibly imagine, in one moment you’re basking in the romance of Herc and Meg’s delicate rose garden, the next, Hades is descending dramatically on a rusty walkway in an Underworld that carries the vibe of a sad school disco.”
“then there’s the characters. Without hesitation, the highlight of the show are The Muses. Candace Furbert, Sharlene Hector, Brianna Ogunbawo, Malinda Parris and Robyn Rose-Li are a party in human form, making sure the show is always as irreverent and un-serious as possible, and delivering note-perfect vocals throughout. Without them, the show simply wouldn’t work.”
Conclusion
Overall, while it’s not glowing reviews the show is praised for it’s excellent acting and songs alongside gorgeous sweeping sets. Hopefully you enjoyed the Hercules Reviews Round-up and are excited to see the show playing until 2026 it’ll be the perfect fun night out with the whole family this summer.
Book tickets to see Hercules now at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
