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Mean Girls The Musical UK Tour Review: A Fetch Night Out
Mean Girls The Musical is currently touring the UK and Ireland, bringing the iconic high school comedy to audiences across the country between now and January 2027. Based on the beloved Mean Girls movie, this stage adaptation delivers big musical numbers, sharp humour and plenty of nostalgic moments for fans of the original.
Leading the cast is Vivian Panka as the ultimate queen bee, Regina George, with Emily Lane stepping into the role of newcomer Cady Heron, the new girl determined to find her place in the social hierarchy.
A Classic Mean Girls Story That Still Feels Fresh
If you’ve seen the original Mean Girls film, you’ll know the premise. Regina George leads The Plastics, the elite clique who rule the school with perfectly manicured authority. When Cady arrives, she befriends outsiders Janis and Damian, and before long, a plan is hatched to bring Regina crashing down from her throne.
I caught the show during its run at Milton Keynes Theatre, What did I think? Was my muffin buttered, or do I need to assign someone to butter my muffin? but the big question was: would it be totally fetch?
Strong Performances Across the Board
Emily Lane delivers a lovable and engaging Cady Heron. From the opening scenes, she wins the audience over, making you root for her journey, even when she begins to believe her own hype later in the show.
Vivian Panka has earned her stripes playing influential high schoolers, having played Alana in Dear Evan Hansen, and won huge acclaim for her time as Heather Duke in Heathers. Because of her pedigree I think I was expecting a bit more of a acidic streak to her Regina George, which I felt was a little underplayed at times, but a more acidic edge could have elevated the character further.
Scene-Stealing Supporting Cast
For me, the show was truly stolen by Max Gill as Damian too gay to function” Hubbard and Georgie Buckland as Janis. Their double act lit up the stage, with impeccable timing and fantastic chemistry.
Buckland perfectly balances angry goth energy with emotional vulnerability, while Gill’s flamboyant dance breaks and comedic delivery brought huge laughs throughout. Buckland’s vocals, in particular, were absolutely outstanding, powerful, emotional and effortlessly impressive.
A Glamorous Standout Performance from a UK Pop Icon
Special mention must also go out to iconic BRIT Award-winning 90s pop star from the pop group Steps. Faye Tozer who plays multiple roles including two mums and a teacher. She brings her trademark glamour, humour and versatility to each part, with one standout moment, that I particularly loved seeing her switch between all three roles in just 90 seconds. The quick-change alone deserves applause and frankly, equal plaudits to her and the backstage dressers on the quick change, that’s a behind-the-scenes TikTok I’d love to see.
Mean Girls Production and Staging
The show took a little time to find its rhythm. I was a bit concerned as the opening 10 minutes felt slightly slow, but once the momentum built, the energy picked up quickly and before long, I found myself dancing in my seat.
Having seen other touring productions, I suspect the West End version may have benefitted from more elaborate staging. This touring set felt designed with portability in mind rather than full visual impact and than stage presence. That said, it remained a solid and entertaining production.
By the end of the show, the audience were on their feet and I walked out singing songs that will undoubtedly be stuck in my head for days.
Verdict on Mean Girls The UK Tour
Fun, nostalgic and packed with standout performances, Mean Girls The Musical is a solid night out at the theatre. While there’s room for the production to sharpen up as the tour continues, it’s still an entertaining and energetic show that fans of the film will love.
I may well pop back later in the tour to see how the production evolves and you can find out for yourself too. Tickets are available now at meangirlsmusical.com.
Star Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Mean Girls Tour Dates
- Manchester: Opera House, 23 Feb – 7 Mar
- Cardiff: Wales Millennium Centre, 10 – 14 Mar
- Sunderland: Empire, 6 – 11 Apr
- Milton Keynes: Theatre, 14 – 18 Apr
- Cheltenham: Everyman Theatre, 19 – 23 May
- Hull: New Theatre, 25 – 30 May
- Bournemouth: Pavilion, 1 – 6 Jun
- Belfast: Grand Opera House, 9 – 20 Jun
- Wolverhampton: Grand Theatre, 23 – 27 Jun
- Glasgow: King’s Theatre, 29 Jun – 11 Jul
- Llandudno: Venue Cymru, 20 – 25 Jul
- Southend: Cliffs Pavilion, 28 Jul – 1 Aug
- Blackpool: Opera House, 18 – 22 Aug
- Dublin: Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, 25 Aug – 5 Sep
- Bristol: Hippodrome, 8 – 12 Sep
- Crawley: The Hawth, 28 Sep – 3 Oct
- Bradford: Alhambra Theatre, 5 – 10 Oct
- Norwich: Theatre Royal, 13 – 17 Oct
- Liverpool: Empire, 19 – 31 Oct
- Nottingham: Royal Concert Hall, 3 – 7 Nov
- Sheffield: Lyceum Theatre, 9 – 14 Nov
- Edinburgh: Playhouse, 17 – 21 Nov
- Wimbledon: New Wimbledon Theatre, 24 – 28 Nov
- Birmingham: The Alexandra, 14 Dec – 2 Jan 2027
Meet our writer Steven Gordon Wilson
Steven Gordon Wilson is a UK-based broadcaster and presenter on Go Explore Radio, where he hosts In The Mix every Tuesday to Thursday from 10am–1pm, alongside the 90s Weekender every Saturday from 4pm–7pm. Known for his relaxed and engaging presenting style, Steven blends nostalgia, entertainment news and engaging conversation, often featuring the occasional celebrity interview and entertainment review.
Away from the microphone, Steven is a self-proclaimed theatre addict, rarely far from his next production. Whether it’s a West End blockbuster, touring musical or hidden gem, he brings thoughtful insight and genuine enthusiasm to every review.
As one of our featured writers, Steven’s articles are honest, passionate and rooted in a true love of theatre, film and live entertainment.
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