For those of us growing up in the eighties and nineties, there was no greater thrill than heading down to Woolworths or Our Price on a Saturday afternoon to pick up the latest edition of NOW! That’s What I Call Music on CD (some might even remember it on cassette), because before streaming services, this was the only way to hear all the biggest hits of recent months brought together in one place. Currently touring the UK, NOW That’s What I Call A Musical recreates that feeling of anthology in a jukebox extravaganza that takes audiences on a journey through the iconic sounds of the 1980s.
Written by Pippa Evans and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, this production is a nostalgic journey back in time to an era when life was defined by big hair, synth beats, and unforgettable pop anthems.
Set across two timelines—1989 and 2009—the story centres on Gemma (Nina Wadia) and April (Sam Bailey), two childhood best friends whose lives have taken very different paths; Gemma has stayed in Birmingham taking up nursing, while April resides in Los Angeles following her dreams of becoming an actress. At a school reunion, Gemma hopes to reconnect with April after years of estrangement.
With flashbacks to their teenage years, we see the pair navigating dreams of stardom, friendship, and first loves, all underscored by a soundtrack of 80s classics like ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, ‘Hey Mickey’, and ‘Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves’. While the plot is light, it serves as a framework for the real star of the show: the music.
There were sound issues at this performance, often meaning that dialogue was drowned out by the music, which didn’t help the story. As is often the case with shows like this, the plot needs to bend and flex quite considerably in order to accommodate whatever song is being lined up, but it’s testament to Evans’ writing that it still manages to be uplifting and touching.
While the first act is lots of fun, with big numbers like St Elmo’s Fire igniting the energy in the room, the second act of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical is more subdued as it explores more of the conflict and ties up some of the loose ends. There are some brighter spots, such as the ‘guest star’ which in this part of the tour is the legendary Sonia and the obligatory ‘mega-mix’ which gets everyone on their feet for the finale.
Perhaps due to the sound issues on the night, not all of these iconic numbers sounded great. There’s a part of the show where the characters are at a karaoke, and for the audience it sometimes felt like they were at one too. However, there were standout performances, with Nina Wadia’s comedic timing grounding the show in heartfelt realism. Sam Bailey’s powerhouse vocals shine in the second act, though her character’s delayed arrival leaves her completely missing in the first half. Maia Hawkins and Nikita Johal, playing younger versions of April and Gemma, bring youthful energy and charm to their roles, capturing the optimism of adolescence with ease.
NOW That’s What I Call A Musical thrives on its sense of fun and nostalgia. The choreography is dynamic, particularly during ensemble numbers like Video Killed the Radio Star, which recreates the iconic music video with flair. Tom Rogers and Toots Butcher’s set is impressive, especially for a touring production, where it needs to work so much harder to fit into so many different venues.
NOW That’s What I Call A Musical knows its audience—fans of 80s music looking for a feel-good night out—and delivers exactly that with pure escapism. Its strength lies in its ability to conjure the nostalgia of a magical musical era while celebrating themes of friendship and resilience.
Tour listings and ticket information can be found here.
