Large Now That’s What I Call a Musical sign suspended above a stage lit in blue and purple
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Oh what a night! Now That’s What I call a Musical took us back in time to an era of great music topped off by a special performance by pop icon Carol Decker, and thanks to the show-stopping direction and choreography by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood. This is an event you won’t want to miss.

Set in Birmingham, 1989, Now That’s What I Call a Musical follows school friends April and Gemma as they map out their futures with the help of Number One magazine quizzes and dreams of snogging Rick Astley.

Fast-forward to 2009, and the dreaded school reunion brings a wave of hilarious and heartfelt drama: friendships are tested, secrets revealed, and long-lost flames return.

With shoulder pads, spandex, shell suits and crimped hair in full swing, the show is a nostalgic time capsule and a brilliant night out.

Two performers share an umbrella in a scene from Now That’s What I Call a Musical
Gemma and April share an umbrella in a scene from Now That’s What I Call a Musical.

Plot Summary: A Story of Dreams, Friendship and Reality

Now That’s What I call a Musical is a tale of then and now with the centre point of the story the Class of 1989’s school reunion. We went back and forth in time following the lives of April (Sam Baily and Maia Hawkins) and Gemma (Nina Wadia and Nikita Johal) and their families.

We met the girls as they were about to turn 18, their dreams and lives ahead of them. Gemma wants to be a nurse, get married and have six children; while April has her sights set on LA and the life of a successful actress.

Fast forward 20-years, the girls are older and wiser, but their lives haven’t quite worked out as they thought they would. There’s drama, affairs, and business woes that test their friendship to the max – can it survive?

Performer in a striped top and dark blazer sings into a handheld microphone on stage
A musical number in Now That’s What I Call a Musical.

Cast Highlights: A Strong Line-Up of Talent and Energy

  • Sam Bailey delivers a powerhouse performance as the older April, winning over the audience with her stellar vocals and emotional depth.
  • Maia Hawkins, making her professional debut as the younger April, is one to watch, a strong and charismatic stage presence.
  • Nina Wadia and Nikita Johal bring brilliant comedic timing and warmth to their portrayals of Gemma across the years.

And of course, the surprise performance by pop icon Carol Decker was a real treat. Her rendition of China In Your Hand transported the audience straight back to 1987, earning huge applause.

A performer is lifted overhead during an ensemble dance on a neon-lit bar set
An ensemble dance includes an overhead lift on the bar set.

80s Nostalgia: A Soundtrack and Style Time Machine

The show is a celebration of 1980s music and culture, with hit after hit powering the story forward. Expect to hear Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Tainted Love, Relax, St Elmo’s Fire, Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves, Hey Mickey, and Video Killed the Radio Star (a standout sing-along moment).

It’s not just the music that channels 80s nostalgia, the staging is filled with classic references:

  • April’s lace gloves, Frank’s shell suit
  • VHS video shops
  • Michael Jackson’s Moonwalking and Thriller dance tributes
  • French bread pizzas, Crossroads, Cocktail and Dirty Dancing throwbacks

The script is peppered with cheeky one-liners and laugh-out-loud moments, including gems like:

  • “Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder – I think you’ve got cataracts.”
  • “Mum’s not forgiven me for being born – she can’t get on a trampoline anymore.”
  • “Look at everyone – same but saggy”
The ensemble of Now That’s What I Call a Musical poses together on stage
The ensemble on the production’s neon-lit bar set.

Audience Atmosphere: Feel-Good Energy All Night

From the opening notes of Relax, the audience were visibly chair-dancing and singing along. This is more than a musical, it’s an interactive celebration of a beloved era.

The show captures the feeling of a school reunion with all the emotions that come with it: regret, reflection, laughter, and connection. It speaks to anyone who’s ever looked back at their younger self with a smile and a sigh.

Final Verdict: The Ultimate 80s Feel-Good Night Out

Now That’s What I call a Musical was well thought out, great fun with lots of laughs. It was a lovely story of lasting friendship and learning to accept life is never going to be perfect.

Whether you’re reliving your teenage years or discovering 80s pop magic for the first time, this is a high-energy, heartfelt celebration you won’t want to miss.

It’s perfect for 80s music lovers, nostalgic theatregoers, and anyone looking for a night of pure entertainment.

Two performers in party dresses sit on a bar while a third performer stands beside them
A scene from the production, whose story moves between 1989 and 2009.

Show Details & Booking Information

  • Dates: Tuesday 25 March – Saturday 29 March 2025
  • Venue: Oxford Playhouse
  • Running Time: Approx. 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)
  • Genre: Musical Comedy
  • Tickets from: £13.00 (plus a £3.95 transaction fee)

Catch it at the New Theatre Oxford – for more details and tickets, visit ATG Tickets

Things to Know Before You Go

May contain mild language and haze effects

Remaining Tour 2025 Dates

  • Bristol Hippodrome: 1 April 2025 – 5 April 2025
  • London New Wimbledon Theatre: 8 April 2025 – 12 April 2025
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