Heathers the Musical is the first show to be performed at the newly built Arts at Marble Arch venue, the new temporary home of the Arts Theatre. Seating 550, this semi-permanent structure has been built (more or less) in the middle of a roundabout and for my first visit, I was worried that the show would not be able to compete with the Marble Arch traffic. I’m happy to say that apart from the occasional sound of sirens (and let’s be honest, we hear them in other West End venues), the theatre is a joy to be in with wide, comfortable seats, good leg room and some fierce air conditioning. I was still relieved, though, that BST in Hyde Park has finished for the summer, as I’m not sure how the venue would cope with the likes of Duran Duran or Pitbull just across the road.
This production of Heathers the Musical follows record-breaking seasons in London, New York and Melbourne. Directed by Andy Fickman, the show is based on the cult 1989 film Heathers and has been turned into a musical by composer Laurence O’Keefe (creator of Bat Boy and the Legally Blonde musical) and American screenwriter Kevin Murphy. Expect quite a lot of US vernacular and some amount of whooping and hollering.
Set in a fictional American high school, Westerberg High, this is not a high school musical in the usual manner. It follows the story of Veronica Sawyer, played by Geraldine Sacdalan, who joins the ruthless ‘Heathers’ gang to protect herself from bullying. She falls for a mysterious new student, ‘JD ’, who dislikes the popular clique and takes her to some dark and brooding places. We are introduced to many uncomfortable themes – bullying, sexual assault, murder, suicide, eating disorders, mental health… It all gets quite intense.
Louis Hearsey as JD displays an arrogance that the role requires and some strong vocal talents. The chemistry between JD and Veronica is very believable, and Sacdalan is outstanding for the whole show. She joins this cast following a nomination for Best Professional Debut in & Juliet at last year’s WhatsOnStage Awards, and she surely has a stellar future ahead.
In fact, the whole cast do really well. John Gurdian and Reuben Browne put in a great turn with their rendition of ‘My Dead Gay Son’. Totally camp but thoroughly enjoyable despite the edgy, ‘in your face’ irreverence of the song’s subject matter. Also worth a mention is Liberty Stotter as leader of the ‘Heathers.’ She is captivating, although you have to suspend belief that she is only 17 years old. She commands the stage with a maturity that extends beyond this musical.
The set is static and the costumes look great, colour-coded for each of the ‘Heathers’ with the odd flamboyant outfit appearing here and there. The vibrant colour palette contrasts sharply with the dark storyline. The music is great – catchy pop songs that scored a great hit with the audience.
I must confess that I have never seen the original film, but I believe that any play or musical should be good enough to stand alone and be accessible to all, even if you aren’t familiar with the source material. Heathers does not quite pass this test. Firstly, it is really long. Act One lasts nearly an hour and a half and feels overly stretched. Second, while the whole show deals with some dark themes, it takes a sharp turn for Act Two which throws in a mass of teenage tropes and gets even more extreme. It all becomes a bit confusing, and it may sound like a cliché, but I do think ‘less is more’ in this case.
The show also suffers because there is a lack of accountability for the characters. You could say that the ‘bad’ students get what they deserve, but at no point do the main perpetrators suffer any consequences from their behaviour. The use of guns feels like a very American trope and does not sit easily with me. The world has come a long way since 1989, and Heathers struggles to reconcile its roots with the modern age.
Heathers the Musical is irreverent humour in that provocative, American vein typified by The Book of Mormon. It will not appeal to all, and it is definitely not designed for a young teen audience despite a superficial resemblance to High School Musical, Clueless or other coming-of-age shows. The plot may be dark, but the music is upbeat, and the cast are enthusiastic and very talented. A good start for London’s newest theatre.
Review by Fiona Gilbert
Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day. But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true. That is until J.D., the mysterious teen rebel, teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it’s murder being a somebody…
THE CLASS
Gerardine Sacdalan – Veronica Sawyer
Louis Hearsey – Jason ‘J.D.’ Dean
Liberty Stottor – Heather Chandler
Jessica Ibadin – Heather Duke
Lou Henry – Heather McNamara
Veronica Carabai – Ms. Fleming/Veronica’s Mom
Sophie Manners – Martha Dunnstock
Markus Södergren – Kurt Kelly
Beau Jackson – Ram Sweeney
John Gurdían – Ram’s Dad/Big Bud Dean/Coach Ripper
Reuben Browne – Kurt’s Dad/Veronica’s Dad/Principal Gowan
Christian De-Gallerie – Preppy Stud/Officer
Ellouise Delooze – New Wave Party Girl
Caitlin Garcia – Drama Club Drama Queen/Swing
Alexander Howarth – Hipster Dork/Officer
Charlotte O’Rourke – Midwestern Surfer Punk
Thomas Oxley – Beleaguered Geek
Tola Sokoya – Young Republicanette
Carys Taylor – Stoner Chick
THE FACULTY
Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe – Music, Book, Lyrics
Andy Fickman – Director
Gary Lloyd – Choreographer and UK Associate Director
Will Joy and Jeremy Wootton – Musical Supervisors
David Shields – Designer
Ben Cracknell – Lighting Designer
Dan Samson – Sound Designer
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL
The Arts at Marble Arch
9 July to 22 August 2026
