It feels like an age has passed since an all-singing, all-dancing musical has graced the stage of the Theatre Royal Plymouth, but finally after a very long time, musical theatre has returned to the UK’s largest regional theatre. Kicking off its UK Tour, Hairspray bounces back onto the stage as if it has never been away with bundles of energy, a cast that are clearly thrilled to be back doing what they do best and a message that is still relevant today. 

Set in 1962, Hairspray tells the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad (Katie Brace), who dreams of dancing on her favourite TV programme, The Corny Collins Show. But fame isn’t her only goal. She wishes to see the show integrate and for it to be seen as acceptable for white and coloured people to dance together. With the help of her mother Edna (Alex Bourne), her father Wilbur (Norman Pace), best friend Penny (Rebecca Jayne Davis), The Corny Collins Show’s leading man Link (Ross Clifton) and host of the show’s monthly 'day for coloured dancers Motormouth Maybelle (Brenda Edwards), Tracy sets out to rip up the rule book and propel The Corny Collins Show into a brand-new integrated era.

Making her professional stage debut as Tracy Turnblad, Katie Brace shines. Barely off stage for the entire running time, she delivers energy by the bucketload and puts Tracy’s determination for change and equality centre stage. Her chemistry with Ross Clifton as TV show crooner Link Larkin is fun and believable and makes for a delightful watch. Clifton’s take on Link Larkin is stylish and lovable, as he battles with his desire to stay perfect in the eyes of the show’s producers with the hope of getting his big break, against his desire to help Tracy to integrate the show. Rebecca Thornhill takes on the villain role of the piece as Velma Von Tussle, a character who you just love to hate as she does everything that she can to keep the show ‘white only’ and to win her daughter Amber (Jessica Croll) the Miss Hairspray crown. Both Thornhill and Croll take on the baddie roles with flair and a sense of comic timing that really lifts their characters. 

Alex Bourne and Norman Pace make a wonderful double act as Tracy’s loving parents, Edna and Wilbur. We see Edna go on her own journey of acceptance as she realises that size cannot stop her daughter from achieving her dreams and learns to accept her own body image with the help of husband Wilber and Motormouth Maybelle. One of the biggest applauses of the night went to Bourne and Pace’s brilliantly funny rendition of ‘Timeless to Me’, which caused a lot of laughter, especially when a child in the audience loudly exclaimed ‘bleurgh’ when the two characters kissed. Brenda Edwards’ Motormouth Maybelle is determined and passionate, willing to do anything to help Tracy to integrate the show and Richard Meek’s Corny Collins is lovable as he flips from picture perfect TV host to showing his own determination to make the show better for all as he proves more than willing to talk back to producer Velma. A special mention must also go to Rebecca Jayne Davis as Penny Pingleton who displays a flair for comedy and really draws the eye on the ensemble moments. 

After such a long time without live on-stage musicals, Hairspray feels like a tonic for the soul with high energy dance sequences, plenty of comedy and messages of acceptance, racism and body image that still hits home today.  Drew McOnie’s choreography is sublime, lighting up the stage with megawatt energy, top-class precision and style. You can feel the cast’s sheer happiness at being able to be back on a stage again and the joy of being able to share that happiness with an audience once more. From the applause, you wouldn’t have noticed that the capacity was significantly reduced due to social distancing as everyone shared in the joyful experience of live theatre.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Rebecca Wallis

Tickets for Hairspray are currently on sale until March 2022. For more information and to book tickets, please click here.

Please note this review also appears on the Musical Theatre Lives in Me blog page.