Sexy, Sassy and Seriously Sensational.
It isn’t hard to think about what rating this musical is getting. It is an easy 5 stars.
Burlesque The Musical is a stage adaptation of the hit 2010 movie which starred Cher and Christina Aguilera. The story follows Ali (Gracie O’Brien), a 20 year old girl who lives in Iowa who decides to head to New York City to search for her biological mother, Tess (Faye Brookes).
Tess owns a Burlesque club and when Ali arrives on the scene, she has no time to listen to what Ali has to say. The club is in debt and if it doesn’t turn around soon, Tess will lose it. Can Ali help save the club?
Both Gracie O’Brien and Faye Brookes bring real depth to their roles. O’Brien is particularly impressive as Ali, carrying the character from the wide-eyed newcomer arriving in New York to a confident performer who finally discovers her voice and, more importantly, where she belongs. For a professional stage debut, it is a remarkably assured performance and if I hadn’t read the programme, I would have thought this was one of many huge roles for Gracie.
Brookes brings plenty of warmth and fire to the role of Tess, balancing the tough exterior of a woman fighting to keep her beloved club alive with the vulnerability of a mother who has unknowingly been searching for her daughter.
There are some other standout performances too (although the whole cast is phenomenal). Davide Fienauri is wonderfully watchable as Vince, Tess’s ex-husband, bringing just the right amount of charm and menace to the character who is determined to get his hands on the Burlesque Lounge. And Tyler Davis is hugely likeable as Jack, Ali’s love interest, bringing warmth, humour and an easy chemistry with O’Brien that makes their relationship one of my favourite parts of the show.
The production is absolutely brilliant. Filled with a fantastic score of iconic songs (some from the movie and some exciting new numbers). There’s some huge voices in this cast with sensational performances of songs such as Tough Lover, Bound to You and You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me. The choreography is equally as impressive. The energy is next level and the performances were completely flawless with incredible precision. The costumes are glittery, glamorous and in many scenes, very cheeky. They perfectly capture the world of Burlesque. Also, I must note the incredible costume changes. Sometimes I would blink and a costume had changed – so cleverly directed and created.
It was an incredible evening at the theatre, thoroughly entertaining and a show that deserves to be seen.
You can catch it at The Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 17 October 2026.
Book your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/burlesque-the-musical/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham
Please note: This review is from the press night opening performance at The Alexandra Theatre.