The award-winning West End hit Heathers: The Musical will be shown in cinemas nationwide for one night only on 28 March before a digital release later in the year.
Based on the 1989 cult classic film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, the musical adaptation follows Westerberg High student Veronica Sawyer, whose dreams of popularity finally start to come true when she’s taken under the wings of the three beautiful yet impossibly cruel Heathers. But when a mysterious new kid, teen rebel JD, arrives in town, Veronica realises that whilst it might kill to be a nobody, it’s murder being a somebody…
It’s a testament to the sheer power of Daniel Waters’ screenplay and Michael Lehmann’s film that the Heathers fanbase has only grown over the thirty-three years since Veronica and JD first entered our lives. Our coming-of-age season, ‘Teen Dreams’, explored the enduring power of Heathers and its ability to talk to multiple generations while blowing up the 80s teen comedy template. Heathers was sharp, bold and controversial, its themes ranging from sexual assault to bulimia, suicide and murder in a movie that ushered in a new era.
I admit that, due to my enduring love for Lehmann’s 1989 satirical masterpiece, I wasn’t sure the film would work as a musical, and I was partly right. The inherent darkness of Heathers is toned down in this musical adaptation, with greater emphasis on exaggerated comedy than on satire. But that’s a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things because this big, bold and colourful musical escapade is delightful.
The comedy may not be as cutting, but the music is nothing short of awesome. So “Lick It Up Baby, Lick. It. Up!” The Other Palace 2022 cast features Ailsa Davidson as Veronica Sawyer, Simon Gordon as JD, Maddison Firth as Heather Chandler, Vivian Panka as Heather Duke and Teleri Hughes as Heather McNamara. It also stars Mhairi Angus as Martha Dunnstock and Vicki Lee Taylor as Ms Fleming / Veronica’s mum. Liam Doyle completes the cast as Kurt Kelly, Rory Phelan as Ram Sweeney, Andy Brady, Oliver Brooks, Jermaine Woods, Benjamin Karran, Chris Parkinson, Eleanor Morrison-Halliday, Mary-Jean Caldwell, Hannah Lowther, and May Tether.
Follow Us