That'll Be the Day
Rating: ★★★
Venue: London Palladium

Coming back to the iconic London Palladium after 10 years, That’ll Be The Day returns for a night of unforgettable entertainment! Don’t miss this spectacular performance celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the show and Trevor’s farewell tour.

Experience a unique blend of rock ‘n’ roll, pop, and comedy, featuring timeless hits from the 50s through to the 80s. Join us to celebrate this milestone as we enjoy four decades of entertainment, showcasing the energy, passion, and talent that has made That’ll Be The Day the UK’s longest-running touring theatre show. Celebrate the legacy, relive the hits, and bid farewell to Trevor in the heart of London’s West End.

That'll Be the Day is the UK's longest-running touring theatre show, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary on tour. The show celebrates four decades of music, spanning from the 1950's to the 1980's. It's an amalgamation of rock 'n roll, pop music and comedy. After ten years away from the West End, they returned to celebrate this iconic milestone of forty years onstage.

From the age of 16 I've been a fan of the show and ushering the show in my local theatre was my first job, so it holds a special place in my heart. There were some aspects of the show that worked well in the 15 years since I've seen it, but others that not only have not been updated, but also possibly made more problematic and at times, made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.

It's clearly aimed at an older demographic and of course, it makes sense considering the dates of the music (50s to the 80s). However, having "Mick Jagger" walk about the stage disregarding and almost mocking LGBTQIA+, in particular the trans community, is not only outdated, but also offensive to the audience. Just because you like 50's music, this doesn't mean your beliefs are stuck in the 50's and it's a shame a show with so much talent has to stoop to such a low place in an attempt to connect with an audience that they already had engaged.

Having seen many one-off performances at the Palladium, there's usually a lot of technical issues with sound and I'm pleasantly surprised that besides one or two blips, everything was smoothly delivered and I'm sure that comes down to 40 years of being on tour, because the precision and professionalism of the entire production showed. 

The use of the projector at the back of the stage worked really well, particularly for those of us like myself in the grand circle. And the messages from the likes of Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin were a wonderful surprise for any old school rock 'n roll fan, and the videos were well received from audience members.

Another aspect that worked well were the costumes and wigs. A costume and wig change for each decade and each iconic group/singer did not go unnoticed, and it was brilliant to see the evolving fashion and hairstyles of those four decades and I'm sure for those who lived through those decades found it very nostalgic. 

One thing that can't be faulted is the vocalists and talent onstage for the majority of the show. Particular highlights included Stevie Wonder's, "For Once in My Life", The Kinks', "You Really Got Me" and the Rolling Stones', "Satisfaction". As well as the medleys of iconic acts such as Elvis and The Beatles that undoubtedly shaped pop music as we know it today. In particular, the female cast members were absolutely exceptional and any West End production would be lucky to have them gracing their stage.

I felt at times that the attempts on comedy fell a little flat and jolted the rhythm of the night and the pacing, which became quite frustrating. Particularly as the show ran for almost 3 and a half hours, it felt unnecessary and only aided in making the production longer than it needed to be, with many audience members having to leave early, which for an anniversary performance full of long-term fans must have been very disappointing.

I have no doubt that That'll Be the Day will continue its tour around the UK for years to come, as there's no doubt the demand for it is still there. But perhaps with some editing to the comedy skits, and a fresh change to the casting, it would appeal to a wider demographic and fit in more with the ever-changing world.

You can book tickets to That'll Be the Day on its UK tour, here.

**photo credit: Jessie Hawkes**