I Should Be So Lucky at The Alexandra, Birmingham - Review

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Mon 01 Apr 2024 - Sat 06 Apr 2024

It was cold, wet and windy outside, but inside The Alexandra the audience was transported to sunny Turkey, accompanied by a sparkling soundtrack of Stock, Aitken and Waterman hits.

I Should Be So Lucky is unashamedly a Jukebox Musical, with the story taking its cue from the lyrics of the Hit Factory’s songs. Aimed at the theatregoers who made Mamma Mia such a success, it tells the tale of bride-to-be Ella, who is jilted at the altar by fiancée Nathan. Rather than waste the money spent on the honeymoon, she continues with the planned holiday, and heads for the Turkish resort with family and friends.



On a colourful heart-themed set, with impressive back projections of sunsets and sea, the group meet new people, develop fresh relationships and explore their true feelings.

Ella (perfectly played by Lucie-Mae Summer ) is inspired by her musical hero Kylie Minogue , who is a major part of the production thanks to regular appearances (on film) throughout the show, giving advice to Ella.



Kylie leaves the singing to the rest of the cast, and they do a grand job on the likes of I Heard A Rumour, Respectable, Venus and Never Gonna Give You Up. There are some fine singers on stage, especially Kayla Carter as Bonnie the bridesmaid, Giovanni Spano (from X Factor) as best man Ash and Scott Paige as Ella’s gay friend Michael.

You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), Better The Devil You Know and I Should Be So Lucky were particular favourites with the capacity audience, which included Pete Waterman who was happy to be photographed with fans.

The show is written and directed by Debbie Isitt, probably best known for her Nativity! franchise, and I Should Be So Lucky has the same heart-warming vibe. Jamie Chapman, one of the actors from Nativity! The Musical, is called upon to supply much of the comedy in I Should Be So Lucky. Sounding like Roy Barraclough's Cissie Braithwaite, he is hilarious as resort manager Spencer.

Debbie also conceived and directed the hit 2006 rom-com movie Confetti – she may be reminding us of that with the large amount of confetti thrown in I Should Be So Lucky!



With choreography by Strictly Come Dancing’s Creative Director, Jason Gilkison, and music arrangement and orchestration by George Dyer, it’s a non-stop rollercoaster of frothy fun that never flags. So, Step Back and Time and enjoy again the SAW music of those glory days of the late ‘80s/ early ‘90s.

I Should Be So Lucky is at Birmingham's Alexandra until April 6, 2024. It then moves to Bristol, Liverpool, Sunderland, Aberdeen and Dublin.

Rating: 4 out of 5




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