‘Show a little more, show a little less’ Burlesque, Savoy Theatre, London. 16.08.25

When I reflect on the musicals I saw in 2025, Burlesque is a firm contender for favourite of the year.

I don’t say that lightly. Thinking about the shoes the chosen leading ladies had to fill – none other than Cher AND Christina Aguilera (so not just one but two absolute icons) – I was nervous about who they could pick who would be up for the task. Choosing Jess Foley to play Ali (Christina’s Aguilera’s role), in what was her West End debut, felt like an extremely bold choice.

But with Christina herself as Executive Producer, and Todrick Hall directing and choreographing, I had faith that they would produce something special. And what better setting than the iconic Savoy Theatre to host it.

If you are unaware, Burlesque the musical is based on the 2010 film of the same name. The story follows Ali Rose, an aspiring young singer, who leaves her small hometown for New York in search for her mother. She is hired as a cocktail waitress at the struggling, once-majestic Burlesque Lounge, where she stuns owner Tess with her powerful voice and becomes a star, finding romance and a way to help save the club.

Given it’s short, summer run, the Savoy was packed to the rafters. The atmosphere was electric as we waited for the lights to go down.

It doesn’t take long to establish why Jess Foley was picked for the role of Ali. Somehow, calling her a powerhouse doesn’t seem to do her justice, particularly for one so young. She has an incredible voice and isn’t shy when it comes to showing off her range. She also wrote her opening song ‘Got It All From You’. (As a side note, if you missed her in Burlesque but want to see her for yourself, she is currently playing Éponine in Les Misérables, which I imagine she is equally brilliant in).

Reprising Cher’s role of Tess, in her West End debut, is Orfeh, who is no stranger to the stage and has Tony and Grammy Award nominations to her name. She proved quickly that she was a very safe pair of hands to entrust Cher’s mantle to, performing her numbers with ease. She was extraordinarily elegant on stage, and sassy in her dialogue with Sean.

None of this would be possible without the genius, both on stage and behind the scenes, of Todrick Hall, who not only directs and choreographed this production, but also plays the role of Sean, as well as writing most of the songs in it. He may only be joking when he announces he’s tired from ‘carrying the show’, but the statement rings true. In a terrifically talented cast, he is undoubtedly a star, bringing effortless humour to his role, as well as being commanding in his stage presence.

Paul Jacob French as Jackson and George Maguire as Vince are our attractive supporting gentlemen vying for Ali’s affections. Obviously, they can’t be compared vocally to their female counterparts, but they both hold their own amongst the stars of the show.

Without the wider ensemble/swing, it would definitely be a bit lack lustre, even with the amazing voices being showcased. They bring a huge amount of energy to the stage, with some stunning dancers amongst their number – absolutely mandatory in a show called Burlesque – which adds a real wow factor to the performance.

As you might expect from a production entitled Burlesque, the costumes are pretty fabulous! No surprise when their costume designer was Marco Marco, who has done designs for Britney Spears. I would kill for some of the dresses they get to wear. The majority of the scenes occur in the Burlesque Lounge, with occasional shifts to apartments, so it is very focused on the bar and it’s stage which keeps it quite simple. The giant letters spelling out Burlesque, which are on stage when you enter the theatre, are used to great effect.

Overall, it was a phenomenal show. We were promised a BIG new musical and that’s exactly what we got. It probably was my favourite of the year; exploding onto the West End with a level of energy and sass that I haven’t seen in a musical for quite some time. I felt certain they couldn’t leave it at a limited run at the Savoy, so I was delighted to hear it’s coming back with a tour and another stint in London.

Sadly, the original 2025 cast have moved on to other projects, but I have absolute confidence they will have chosen stellar replacements to take it forward on tour.

Tour dates and locations throughout the UK can be found here. There have been a number of technical and other issues which have marred the start of the tour, causing cancellations of the tour’s opening nights, and unfortunately its run at The Arts at Marble Arch has been postponed until 2027, with dates to be announced. Hopefully these will be resolved swiftly, as it really is a terrific production and well worth a visit.

I’m waiting for them to announce the new Marble Arch dates, as I probably won’t be able to resist going back!