There’s something rather special about a trip to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Before the curtain even rises, you feel as though you’re heading somewhere grand. It was my third trip to this particular theatre. I took my Mum to see My Fair Lady here back in 2002, and then Mr W and I saw Frozen here (spookily enough) three years to the day before I saw Disney’s Hercules!
On this occasion I visited with my good friend Erica from The Incidental Parent as we were in town to review the Eccleston Square Hotel.
The beautifully restored theatre is one of London’s most impressive venues, and as we settled into our seats for Disney’s Hercules, there was a real sense of anticipation around the auditorium.
The 1997 animated film has remained a family favourite in our house for years. The songs are unforgettable, the characters hugely entertaining and, of course, there are those wonderfully sassy Muses. Bringing such a beloved film to the stage is never an easy task, so we were curious to see whether Disney could capture the magic.
From the opening moments, it became clear that this production is aiming big.
The story follows Hercules, the son of Zeus and Hera, who finds himself banished from Mount Olympus and forced to live among mortals. Determined to discover where he truly belongs, he embarks on a journey filled with monsters, gods, villains and plenty of soul-searching along the way. While the broad outline remains familiar, the stage version takes a few different turns from the film, with new songs and some reworked characters woven into the story.
What struck us first was just how vibrant everything looked. The stage bursts into life with colour almost immediately. Costumes shimmer, dancers whirl across the stage and scenes transform with impressive speed. It feels every inch the big Disney production audiences will be expecting.
But if there is one thing everyone will be talking about after the show, it is the Muses.
Every time they appeared, the production seemed to lift another level. Acting as narrators throughout the story, they guide the audience through Hercules’s adventures with humour, warmth and some truly astonishing vocals. Their performances are packed with personality, and songs such as Zero to Hero brought some of the loudest applause of the evening. More than once, we found ourselves watching them even when something else was happening centre stage.
The audience certainly seemed to agree. There were cheers after several musical numbers and plenty of smiling faces around us throughout the performance.
Disney’s Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London – Review
The cast as a whole work hard to bring these familiar characters to life. Hercules is portrayed with an appealing mixture of strength and vulnerability, while Meg brings plenty of attitude and wit. Hades, meanwhile, provides much of the comedy. His character feels slightly different from the fast-talking villain many will remember from the film, but he still generates plenty of laughs.
Incidentally one of our cats in called Hades, so I had to snap this shot to send home to the fam!
For younger audience members, there is lots to enjoy. The mythical creatures, larger-than-life battles and visual effects all create genuine moments of excitement. There were plenty of children in the audience on the evening we attended, and they seemed completely absorbed by the action unfolding on stage.
That said, the show isn’t perfect.
For all its visual flair, there were moments where we found ourselves wanting a little more emotional connection. The story moves at quite a pace, often rushing from one set piece to the next. While there is certainly heart within the production, it doesn’t always have the chance to breathe. Some of the newer songs are enjoyable enough, but they don’t quite linger in the memory like the classics that audiences already know and love.
Yet perhaps that’s missing the point slightly.
Hercules isn’t trying to be a dark, complex reimagining. It’s designed as a joyous family musical, full of laughter, spectacle and catchy songs. Judged on those terms, it succeeds remarkably well. The audience left the theatre visibly happy, children were humming songs in the foyer and there was that lovely post-show buzz that only big musical theatre can create.
As we stepped back out into Covent Garden after the performance, we found ourselves talking less about the plot and more about individual moments — a dazzling musical number, a particularly clever piece of staging, a soaring vocal performance. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a night at the theatre.
Would we recommend it? Absolutely, particularly for families, Disney fans and anyone looking for a feel-good West End treat.
It may not quite reach the theatrical heights of Disney’s most iconic stage productions, but it delivers plenty of fun, a huge amount of spectacle and a thoroughly enjoyable evening out.
Yorkshire Wonders Rating: 4/5
A colourful, energetic family musical packed with Disney magic, unforgettable Muses and enough theatrical sparkle to keep audiences entertained from start to finish.
Another production we would recommend is Oliver the Musical! at the Gielgud Theatre.
