9 to 5 The Musical - Coventry Review

Review by Chloe

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review

9 to 5 is a fun and uplifting production that had the audience laughing throughout whilst featuring the message of female empowerment. The story focussed on women standing up for who stood up for themselves and braving it to challenge the unfair treatment they experienced at work during the 1970s. A production showcasing a positive and uplifting message whilst keeping it entertaining and funny.

Karla Tracey (Doralee), Kayla Carter (Judy), Jade Marvin (Violet), Tim Rogers (Hart). Photo by Louise Waldron.

Dolly Parton, the late queen of country music, wrote the musical numbers, and I felt privileged to watch this show, particularly at this time of mourning for this brilliant singer and songwriter. The opening number couldn’t be anything other than ‘9-5’. What a way to open the show! Then to sandwich the show with a final rendition of ‘9-5’ to end the night had us all singing that earworm all the way home.

A huge strength of this show is its cast members and their vocal skill set, bringing about energetic and show-stopping musical numbers. Karla Tracey, playing the role of Doralee, stood out with a strong, memorable performance for holding her accent and characterisation without dropping a beat.

Considering the cast was on the small side, the use of multi-roles gave them all plenty of stage time and they were certainly kept busy. The set was simple yet effective through the use of a two-tiered stage, working well for the different locations, allowing swift scene changes. I particularly liked the use of the collapsible bed representing the boss's house – no spoilers! Having the band on stage allowed us audience members to see and appreciate the musicians, giving them the platform they fully deserved, rather than being hidden away. 

Karla Tracey (Doralee), Kayla Carter (Judy), Jade Marvin (Violet). Photo by Louise Waldron.

I very much enjoyed this show, but I did feel there were a couple of areas that could have been stronger. The show only had one major costume change, which meant there wasn’t much visual development. I also felt that some of the humour and themes were not particularly age-appropriate for a younger 

audience.

Overall I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening watching 9 to 5. It was funny, energetic and uplifting, with strong vocals, a talented cast and a simple but effective set, whilst the message of female empowerment was thought-provoking. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

9 to 5 The Musical runs in Coventry until Saturday 5th September 2026. For tickets visit https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/9-to-5-the-musical/

The tour then visits its final stop, The White Rock in Hastings from 8th to 13th September 2026. For tickets, visit https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk/whats-on/event/9-to-5-the-musical-2026/