Preview: Mean Girls The Musical at Sunderland Empire

 

Steps Star Faye Tozer Joins Mean Girls The Musical at Sunderland Empire

Sunderland Empire | 6-11 April 2026

Get ready to experience the ultimate high school hierarchy as the award-winning Mean Girls The Musical arrives at Sunderland Empire for six electrifying performances this spring.

The Plastics Are Coming

Based on the beloved 2004 Paramount Pictures film written by comedy legend Tina Fey, Mean Girls The Musical brings all the iconic wit, memorable one-liners, and delicious drama of the original movie to the stage with a fresh infusion of killer songs and razor-sharp choreography. The story follows Cady Heron, a previously home-schooled teenager who enters the treacherous social jungle of North Shore High School, where she encounters The Plastics – the school's reigning queen bees led by the formidable Regina George.

When Cady devises a plan to dethrone Regina and dismantle the toxic hierarchy, she discovers that high school politics can be far more savage than anything she learned from her zoologist parents about the animal kingdom. It's a cautionary tale about identity, friendship, and the dangers of becoming the very thing you set out to destroy.

From Screen to Stage: A Musical Journey

Mean Girls first captured hearts as a film in 2004, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon that defined a generation's understanding of teen dynamics. The musical adaptation had its world premiere in 2017 at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., before transferring to Broadway's August Wilson Theatre in April 2018. There, it played to packed houses and enthusiastic audiences, cementing its status as a modern musical theatre sensation.

L-R - Max Gill, Georgie Buckland, Emily Lane, Faye Tozer,
Vivian Panka, Kiara Dario, Sophie Pourret.
Photo: Adam Lawrence

The show's Broadway success sparked a hugely popular US tour in 2019, followed by a second tour that continued to draw devoted fans across America. The musical made its West End debut at the Savoy Theatre on 5 June 2024, where it captured the hearts of London audiences and was seen by over 330,000 people during its run through 8 June 2025. The production's critical and commercial success was validated when it took home the coveted 'Best New Musical' award at the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards.

In a delightful full-circle moment, Paramount Pictures released a new film adaptation in 2024 that brought the musical version to cinema screens, introducing a whole new audience to the show's sensational musical performances and Tina Fey's brilliantly updated take on her original screenplay.

Star-Studded Cast Announced

The tour features an exciting ensemble led by Emily Lane as Cady Heron, with Vivian Panka taking on the iconic role of mean girl supreme Regina George. Sophie Pourret plays the lovably dim Karen Smith, while newcomer Kiara Dario makes her UK principal debut as the anxious, people-pleasing Gretchen Wieners.

Georgie Buckland and Max Gill bring rebellious energy as outsider artist Janis Sarkisian and her fabulous best friend Damian Hubbard, while Karim Zeroual appears as Kevin Ganatra and Joshua Elmore as Mr Duvall.

Faye Tozer,
Photo: Adam Lawrence

A special highlight for the Sunderland run is the casting of pop royalty Faye Tozer in the triple role of Ms Heron/Ms Norbury/Mrs George. Best known as a member of BRIT Award-winning pop band Steps, Faye brings her considerable star power and West End experience to the production. With Steps, she achieved number one hits including "Tragedy" and "Stomp" and has sold over 25 million records worldwide. Her theatrical credits span from West End productions like Everybody's Talking About Jamie to UK tours of classics including 42nd Street, Singin' in The Rain, and 101 Dalmatians.

Creative Dream Team

The musical boasts an impressive creative pedigree. Tina Fey adapted her own screenplay into the show's book, maintaining all the quotable dialogue and sharp social commentary that made the film a classic. Jeff Richmond composed the music with vocal arrangements, while Nell Benjamin penned the witty lyrics that perfectly capture the voice of contemporary teenage life.

Direction and choreography come from Casey Nicholaw, the Tony Award-winning talent behind hits like The Book of Mormon and Aladdin, who brings his signature blend of comedy and dynamic movement to the production. The design team includes Scott Pask on sets, Katrina Lindsay on costumes, and Kenneth Posner on lighting, creating a vibrant visual world that translates the film's aesthetic sensibility to the stage.

What to Expect

Audiences can look forward to all the memorable moments from the film reimagined with theatrical flair: the Burn Book, the Spring Fling, "that's so fetch," and of course, the legendary "On Wednesdays we wear pink" rule. But the musical expands on the story with show-stopping numbers that explore characters' inner lives, amplify the comedy, and add emotional depth to this tale of teenage politics and personal growth.

The show balances laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine heart, ultimately delivering a message about authenticity, female friendship, and the courage it takes to be yourself in a world that constantly pressures you to conform.

Tickets:

Mean Girls The Musical performs at Sunderland Empire from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 April 2026. This limited six-performance engagement promises to be one of the hottest tickets of the spring season.

Tickets are available now at ATGTickets.com/Sunderland (a £3.95 transaction fee may apply to online bookings).

Whether you're a devotee of the original film, a musical theatre enthusiast, or simply looking for a night of spectacular entertainment, Mean Girls The Musical promises an unforgettable theatrical experience. After all, the limit does not exist when it comes to how much fun you'll have at this show.

So fetch. So fierce. So not to be missed.