Hottest Dance Show returns to London’s West End
Strictly on Stage
★★★
- What: Theatre
- Where: The London Paladium
- When: 25th May - 9th June 2021
- Cost: £18 - £73
Since airing back in 2004 on BBC One, Strictly Come Dancing has seen numerous celebrities’ partner with world-class dancers to battle out the best in Latin and ballroom dances. This year, many of the show’s previous contestants are set to return to London’s West End. Here Come The Boys, as the name suggests, features four male Strictly pros - Aljaž Škorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, Graziano di Prima, Robin Windsor, along with Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual as the presenter and special guest star Strictly’s bombshell Nadiya Bychkova representing the girls.
As one of the first shows of the 2021 season at the London palladium, this show is here to make you feel good. With the dancers returning from furlough, the show offers you all the sequins, open shirts, and tassels that we have come to love from Strictly Come Dancing. The energy from the dancers is infectious and the atmosphere is uplifting.
The music ranges from fifties swing to disco and electronic dance, all blended with dance-floor anthems. With songs from Queen, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga and The Weekend, you can expect to be singing and clapping along throughout - which is actively encouraged. The license fees alone must have been high given the number of hits they played!
The premise of the show is simple - the “Wheel of Doom” selects a dance genre, and the boys battle it out to be the “King of the Dance Style”. This takes the form of both dance-offs and group performances. This structure however does feel a little bit contrived at times, with the show ensuring that each contestant wins at least one round.
It is not just the boys on stage, with the ladies joining in the jive, salsa, ballroom, and rumba. With all the lifts, fast paced feet and panache we know and love from the TV programme, this show delivers, recreating the magic the magic of the TV show. However, it is not without surprises, with a beat-boxing compere and a brief introduction to Jane Bond.
The stage, split over two levels, provides a setting for the dancers to move dynamically. The costumes of equal importance (and their speedy changes) did not disappoint. You find yourself mesmerized with the flow of the dresses when they spin around. The lighting is also impressive, with strobes to the rhythm of the music, giving it a nightclub atmosphere, which we have all missed.
Prepare to have your eyes glued to the Boys for two whole hours. From ballroom numbers to Tik-Tok dances, there really is something for everyone. A must see if you’re a Strictly Come Dancing fan.
