Here & Now - the Steps Musical
Newcastle Theatre Royal
Until Sunday 2 November 2025.
Newcastle's Theatre Royal becomes the unlikely setting for supermarket shenanigans this week as the pop phenomenon Steps makes their theatrical debut with Here & Now, a jukebox musical built around the group's catalogue of irresistible pop anthems.
This production marks a bold leap for the band who dominated the charts in the late 1990s and early 2000s with their infectious blend of Euro-pop and precision choreography. Written by Shaun Kitchener with original story contributions from Steps members themselves, the show transforms twenty-five years of pop hits – from 5, 6, 7, 8 to Tragedy – into a surprisingly heartfelt story about friendship, second chances, and finding happiness when life doesn't go according to plan.
Set against the fluorescent-lit aisles of seaside supermarket Better Best Bargains, the musical follows Caz (Rebecca Lock), whose seemingly perfect life implodes just as she approaches her 50th birthday. Having recently been approved to adopt a child with her husband Gareth (Chris Grahamson), Caz challenges her colleagues to pursue their own happy endings during what she dubs their "Summer of Love": the perpetually people-pleasing Vel (Jacqui Dubois) must leave her loveless relationship, shy Neeta (Rosie Singha) needs to confess her feelings to workplace crush Ben (Ben Darcy), and serial-dater Robbie (Blake Patrick Anderson) must stop self-sabotaging potential romances.
But when Gareth abruptly ends their marriage, destroying both Caz's relationship and her adoption dreams, she finds herself having to follow her own advice. As the four friends navigate romantic upheaval and workplace drama – complicated by meddling from store manager Patricia (Finty Williams) and mysterious newcomer Max (Edward Baker-Duly) – their Summer of Love threatens to become something far more tragic, with the entire store's future hanging in the balance.
With its bright pink and blue colour scheme and a story that requires the audience to suspend belief for large chunks - especially if you've every worked in a shop - Here and Now brought back memories from the beginning of the Theatre Guide when we saw a production of Happy Days back in 2014. Whilst that production was about the closure of a diner, it followed a similar pattern and subsequent redemption.
This is a really lively, camp and energetic musical with many feel good moments. There are dark moments in there like relationship breakdown, the loss of homes and employment but they don't really land as you expect there to be a happy ending within a couple of songs. The one emotional section that really does land - and comes complete with one of 2 singing performance from Rebecca Lock that were the highlight of the show - was the story arc around child loss. It really hit home.
Talking of music - a live band accompany the performance under musical director Georgia Rawlins. The singing is a mixed bag. There were superb performances, especially when the tempo was slowed down, from Jacqui Dubois and Rebecca Lock. Their skills were also noticeable in the inevitable mega-mix at the end.
The lads though were much better at dancing, including jumping onto tables and skips mid-song, than the vocal abilities. It cannot be easy to be expected to do a very physical dance routine as you're knocking out a big musical number. In terms of movement, the dancing from the ensemble had real energy and the cast worked hard during the two hours to keep the show lively.
A nice twist from the normal was to include a drag queen Jem (River Medway) out of drag and just doing their normal shopping at the start rather than in full costume. Having said that there was star quality whenever they were on stage.
The show is a bright, bold statement. Here and Now has, in my opinion, a feel of the campier end of Eurovision about it - and there is a big market for a vibrant celebration of Steps. It's The Way You Make Me Feel about pop nostalgia, a Chain Reaction of bright shiny outfits, synchronized dance moves, and unabashed joy that transports audiences to Better times. Judging by the responses at the curtain calls, fans of Steps will Love the show and enjoy the music behind more innocent times - One for Sorrow if you miss it, because this is pure Heartbeat-racing entertainment that proves What the Future Holds for jukebox musicals might just be a Deeper Shade of Blue eyeshadow and a commitment to never taking yourself too seriously.
Review: Stephen Oliver
Photos: Pamela Raith
Tickets:
Tickets for Here & Now at Newcastle Theatre Royal are available at theatreroyal.co.uk or via the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.
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