Hercules - Theatre Royal Drury Lane

The musical, based on the 1997 Disney classic, follows the journey of the demigod Hercules as he strives to reclaim his place among the gods on Mount Olympus after being stripped of his immortality by the villainous Hades. Despite including fan-favourite songs like "Go The Distance," "Zero to Hero" or "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)", this musical is not quite the adaptation I expected.

Disney has gotten quite the reputation over the years for its lavish, big-budget productions, with hits like The Lion King still rejoicing audiences after almost 30 years on stage. However, Hercules does not quite reach those heights.

Photography by Johan Persson. Original London company.

It is quite rare that I am this torn when writing a review - because on the one hand, the book in this show is incredibly disappointing, but the musical moments seem to make up for this oversight.

The script turns this beautiful story into a pantomime production, chock-full of jokes which didn't seem to land unless the characters turned to look at us after looking for laughs. At first, I found it slightly funny but as it carried on throughout the production - particularly with the show's villains - it completely seemed to lower the stakes of the entire adventure. Further, in the original movie, the character of Hercules seemed sheltered and so, quite naïve. However, the musical takes this further, making him seem even more clueless which in turn makes his a hero that is difficult to root for.

Putting this aside for a minute, the rest of the production is exactly what one expects from a Disney show. The set design, though slightly predictable, perfectly captures the grandeur of Ancient Greece on the stage of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The colour scheme is stunning and brings to life the aesthetic of the original film very well.

Photography by Johan Persson. Original London company.

But the real draw to this production is without a doubt the Muses. Their role is amplified in this show, appearing more often than they seemed to in the animated film. Every time they sang, my jaw was locked on the ground. Leslie Beehann, Kimmy Edwards, Candace Furbert, Malinda Parris and Paige Peddie together? Pure vocal mastery. All of them, individually, as absolute powerhouses but their voices blended together is truly a God-like sound.

Another aspect of the evening that cannot be faulted is the quality of the seats. Having visited almost every West End theatre, I can say with certainty that the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is one of the most comfortable of the list. The view I was given from my seat was perfect: I could see the entire stage, as well as the parts of the set that surround it, whilst being able to see every performer's faces. Let's not forget the incredible leg room as well, something that is quite rare, especially in the older playhouses. Before booking theatre tickets, check out SeatPlan - it lets you verify what your seat's view will actually be like, and you can earn points for every photo you upload and ticket you buy through the site. I've used it for years and can't recommend it enough.

All in all, Hercules the Musical was an interesting experience. Though I absolutely adored the musical aspect of the show, even the new songs, the quality of the script really lets it down.

Production Value: 50%

Value For Money: 50%

Personal Enjoyment: 45%

Overall Score: 48% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)

(AD | gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London

Playing Until: 5th September 2026

Run Time: Approximately 2h10 - with an interval of 20 minutes

Tickets can be purchased from this link.