Review: Heathers, UK Tour at the Palace Theatre, Manchester

Knowing the popularity of this show, it is perhaps no surprise that it has received not just a tour, but another West End run as well. And that the fan base will be out in force! 

Last week, I went along with my friend to the Palace Theatre in Manchester - my first visit since the restrictions were listed - to see the UK tour of Heathers. 

I have spoken about the show before, in its original West End run with Carrie Hope Fletcher (Les Mis) and Jamie Muscato (BKLYN); and I really enjoyed it so of course I was excited when the tour was announced. 

The Covid happened and it got pushed back - but we made it! 

As you may know, the story is set in 1989, and follows Veronica Sawyer, a 17 year-old high schooler who joins the popular Heather trio at the head of the school. But through her relationship with Jason "JD" Dean, the cracks of the tyranny running the school open up, and she realises it's not all it is cracked up to be. 

If you have seen the original production at The Other Palace or the Theatre Royal Haymarket, you will be getting the same energy, choreography and one-liners as before. Whether you have or not, you get taken on a wild ride, that is incredibly dark in its core subject, but is also incredibly funny. 

One of the best things about the tour is that we have a whole new taking on these well-loved characters. Rebecca Wickes was fabulous as the naive but determined and down-to-earth Veronica Sawyer. She very much made Veronica the narrator, and the audience's eyes throughout the show. As her partner (as well as partner-in-crime) Simon Gordon brought the suaveness and the tragedy of Jason "JD" Dean. 

I cannot of course NOT mention the titular Heathers, each with their own distinctive personalities. Maddison Firth's Heather Chandler made it very clear that SHE ran the school with an iron fist. Sometimes she overacted a bit, but once she died, it didn't matter as much as she could really let rip. The other two take very different paths in dealing with the loss of their "friend". Merryl Ansah as Heather Duke seizes power, her portrayal of Never Shut Up Again almost as a moment of coming into her own; where as Lizzy Parker's Heather McNamara becomes a lot more insecure and shy without the mighty Heather Chandler around. 

One final person I would particularly like to mention is Mhairi Angus as Veronica's forgotten friend, Martha. Her performance of Kindergarten Boyfriend almost stole the show for me. 

Now as stated before, Heathers has some serious fans known as Corn Nuts. And they must have been out in force throughout the whole weekend, as by the time I saw the show (the Saturday night), they had completely ran out of merchandise.... I only wanted a programme... That hasn't happened to me since Funny Girl...! 

The main thing with Heathers is that it is Big Fun - see what I did there. I'm glad I took the trip back to Westerburg, and I hope, especially if you haven't seen the show before, that you do as well; including the plethora of 80s tunes played before the curtain went up, and during the interval. Only piece of advice is to keep the kids at home for this one.