Review: Dirty Dancing The Musical

At the end of last year Dirty Dancing went on tour around the UK and spent a sell-out week at Hull New Theatre. Though I’ve seen the film, and remakes of the film, hundreds of times, I have never seen Dirty Dancing on stage, and was excited and interested to see how it would be executed. 

The production was simply incredible- so good in fact that when I ended up seeing it twice in the space of a few days, I was not complaining, just excited to get to see it again. 

Everyone, I’m sure, is aware of the main storyline- a young girl falls for a rebellious dance instructor against the wishes of her father, causing tension and upset within the family. But this production brings so much more than that- the dance numbers and music were sensational throughout, incorporating onstage jazz musicians alongside the pit orchestra which made for such a special atmosphere and, to me, made the show even more incredible. 

It is packed full of emotion- there are sad moments, moments that pull on your heart strings and hilarious moments that are impeccably timed, all in one. 

Of course, the famous lines, songs, and dance routine are all in there, including hit songs Hungry Eyes and I’ve Had the Time of My Life, plus, of course, the very special lift that was nothing short of brilliant thanks to the talented cast who, both nights I saw it, were fantastic. 

In fact- a shout out to the cast- Michael O’Reilly was nothing short of sensational in his role as Johnny, and Kira Malou as Baby the exact same. The whole cast brought the high energy and fun that the show is all about, not to mention the talent and storyline captivation. 

This has definitely become one of the best shows I have seen on the stage recently, so if you are a fan of the film and looking for a feel-good show, this is one for you to look out for next time it is touring.