Calamity Jane UK Tour Review

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Tue 18 Mar 2025 - Sat 27 Sep 2025

It takes a big personality to play iconic Calamity Jane and follow in the mighty footsteps of Doris Day. Trying her hand is West End musical star and YouTube favourite Carrie Hope Fletcher in the latest UK tour of this classic.

I caught the new Calamity Jane at Birmingham Hippodrome , where it stays until Saturday, March 22. The UK tour is then moving on to cities from Glasgow to London, York, Southampton and Liverpool, but back in the Midlands at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from September 9 to 13.

Its big-name attraction is Hope Fletcher and some of the younger girls in the audience had been drawn to this old-time classic because of her. She's most definitely got the voice, especially in timeless songs like Secret Love and Just Blew In From The Windy City but that's no surprise after roles since childhood in musical giants from Mary Poppins to Les Miserable and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella.

More important than that, she's got the personality. She makes 'Calam' as funny, plucky and lovable as Doris Day did in the famous movie, yet maybe even slightly more sassy. She's also got a sizzling chemistry with well cast, simmering Vinny Coyle as Wild Bill Hickok, pictured together below.



There's more emphasis on their love-hate relationship, sparring constantly even when the story focus isn't on them. There are hints of Wild Bill already having a soft spot for her that play out in the intimate, beautiful set, recreating a wooden saloon and theatre in Deadwood.

There's a successful team behind the production and it shows. Director Nikolai Foster is artistic director at Leicester's Curve Theatre and there's award-winning set and costume designer Matthew Wright on board. While co-director and choreographer Nick Winston's long list of credits includes working on Netflix's The Diplomat with Keri Russell.

Together they've created an atmospheric Wild West world with lively hoe downs and where actors are also musicians, playing the piano or banjo and encouraging sing-alongs with the audience to Black Hills Of Dakota.



It's a traditional production, very much in the vein of the film, so it won't disappoint fans of the movie, especially the ball scene. There are slight updates that keep it fresh and there's a good tempo once it settles into the story.

Adding strong support are Seren Sandham-Davies as Katie Brown and Luke Wilson as Danny Gilmartin, who help make this show feel so romantic and uplifting.

It zips along nicely and you even feel heartfelt joy for quirky sideline characters like Francis(Samuel Holmes), Susan(Hollie Cassar) and the brilliantly long-bearded rascal Rattlesnake (Richard Lock).

This new Calamity Jane led by Hope Fletcher is gloriously feel-good and swooning with romance. It will make you fall in love with the classic musical all over again.

RATING: 4 out of 5 stars


Calamity Jane UK and Ireland tour dates
See all dates and how to buy tickets for the UK tour here

Nottingham Theatre Royal
TUE 25 - SAT 29 MAR 2025

Brighton Theatre Royal
TUE 1 - SAT 5 APR 2025

Norwich Theatre Royal
TUE 8 - SAT 12 APR 2025

Edinburgh Festival Theatre
TUE 15 - SAT 19 APR 2025

Liverpool Empire
TUE 22 - SAT 26 APR 2025

York Grand Theatre
TUE 29 APR - SAT 3 MAY 2025

New Wimbledon Theatre
TUE 13 - SAT 17 MAY 2025

Canterbury Marlowe Theatre
TUE 27 - SAT 31 MAY 2025

Southampton Mayflower Theatre
TUE 3 - SAT 7 JUN 2025

Sheffield Lyceum
TUE 10 - SAT 14 JUN 2025

Stoke Regent Theatre
TUE 17 - SAT 21 JUN 2025

Blackpool Opera House
TUE 24 - SAT 28 JUN 2025

Glasgow Kings Theatre
TUE 1 - SAT 5 JUL 2025

Leicester Curve
TUE 8 - SAT 12 JUL 2025

Plymouth Theatre Royal
TUE 15 - SAT 19 JUL 2025

Hull New Theatre
TUE 22 - SAT 26 JUL 2025

Milton Keynes Theatre
TUE 29 JUL - SAT 2 AUG 2025

Truro Hall For Cornwall
TUE 5 - SAT 9 AUG 2025

Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre
TUE 19 - SAT 23 AUG 2025

Llandudno Venue Cymru
TUE 26 - SAT 30 AUG 2025

Bradford Alhambra Theatre
TUE 2 - SAT 6 SEP 2025

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
TUE 9 - SAT 13 SEP 2025

Bromley Churchill Theatre
TUE 16 - SAT 20 SEP 2025

Bristol Hippodrome
TUE 23 - SAT 27 SEP 2025

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