Review by Amelia
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
The Mean Girls The Musical UK Tour arrives as a big post-West End rollout of the hit show, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the major touring musicals of 2026–2027. Based on the 2004 film by Tina Fey, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, the tour kicked off in February 2026 at the Manchester Opera House and runs through to January 2027. Following the well-documented changes from Broadway to the West End, which were met with mixed reactions, the question remains: how does this tour version compare?
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| Photo by Paul Coltas. |
The cast are really the focal point of this production. Vivian Panka gives a fierce performance as Regina George, proving we don’t need to cast a musical solely based on the film it’s adapted from. Her vocals are some of the finest I’ve heard in this role, and it all feels completely effortless. Having now seen her across multiple UK roles, this might just be my favourite, and there’s serious competition for that.
Emily Lane is as gorgeous as ever. After seeing her in Frozen, it’s refreshing to watch her take on something more layered, balancing sweetness with a creeping, power-hungry edge. Her voice fits Cady’s material perfectly, and she moves through the score with real ease and control.
Kiara Dario and Sophie Pourret are sensational as Gretchen and Karen respectively, bringing fresh energy to roles that have been played so many times before. This was the first time I’ve really connected with Gretchen as a character without finding her irritating, which is entirely down to Kiara’s performance, as she captures every side of her without losing any integrity. Sophie, meanwhile, makes for a wonderful Karen, instantly winning over the audience and absolutely triumphing in Sexy.
Georgie Buckland and Max Gill are a formidable duo as Janis and Damian, working effortlessly together and constantly lifting each other’s performances. Some of the comedy didn’t land quite as strongly as I’ve seen in other productions, though that can come down to any number of factors. That said, I’d Rather Be Me is a standout moment, with Buckland’s vocals shining exactly as you’d expect.
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| Photo by Paul Coltas |
The choreography is sharp throughout, and the ensemble proves to be a huge asset. They really come into their own in numbers like Where Do You Belong and Revenge Party, bringing a strong contemporary and hip hop influence to the stage. Despite the story’s focus on its central characters, the ensemble remains ever-present, constantly pulling focus in the best way.
Ultimately, it’s the cast that makes this production. I’m still in mourning for elements of the original Broadway score; some of the changes are understandable, but others feel unnecessary. Blowing Up doesn’t quite hit the same heights for me as its predecessor Stop, and I do miss the Plastics’ individual verses in Meet The Plastics. It’s hard not to feel like an extra minute of runtime could have made space for them.
The set feels pared back compared to the West End version, which itself already felt scaled down from Broadway, though it’s never actively unpleasant to look at. At times it can feel a little bare, with much of the set being wheeled on and off, which slightly disrupts the illusion, but it’s something you adjust to as the show goes on. There were also a few minor sound issues, with microphones not quite balanced at points. It didn’t detract too heavily from the overall experience, but it was noticeable enough to mention.
The show as a whole still hits with a big punch, and the cast of this production are really what stands the test of time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mean Girls The Musical plays at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 18th April 2026. For tickets visit https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/mean-girls/milton-keynes-theatre/
The UK Tour continues until January 2027. For dates and venues visit https://meangirlsmusical.com/
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| Photo by Paul Coltas |
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