Hold on to your scrunchies – Heathers the musical is back in London for another killer spree
The brand-new Arts at Marble Arch theatre is an extension of the beloved Arts Theatre (while it undergoes major refurbishment). Presented by TodayTix, it opens its doors with Heathers the Musical – a show that has built one of the most devoted fanbases in contemporary musical theatre, returning to London for 52 performances only before heading out on yet another extensive UK tour.
The venue itself sits directly beside Marble Arch and Hyde Park, which is a lovely location, if a lively one. The theatre is intimate, which suits this material well but the foyer feels a little poorly thought out with no real flow for people to move around.
The Story
Based on the 1989 cult film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers is a dark comedy about growing up, fitting in and the particular cruelty of high school social hierarchies.
Seventeen-year-old Veronica Sawyer wants an easy life. She strikes a deal with The Heathers (three girls who all share the same name and collectively rule the school), trading her talent for forging teachers’ handwriting in exchange for a seat at the popular table.
It doesn’t take long for Veronica to realise that the Heathers’ brand of social power comes at a cost she isn’t willing to pay when it comes to the takedown of her lifelong friend Martha. Veronica’s new boyfriend, JD, is quietly dangerous and has a plan for revenge that turns out to be considerably more sinister than Veronica had bargained for.
What follows is a murder spree, a cover-up and a reckoning – all set to an electrifying rock/pop score that includes Candy Store, Freeze Your Brain, Seventeen, Dead Girl Walking and My Dead Gay Son.
The Cast
The evening belongs, above all, to Gerardine Sacdalan as Veronica. Fresh from wowing audiences as Juliet in the UK tour of &Juliet, she doesn’t just sing the role – she blows the roof off the room. A star-making performance.
Louis Hearsey brings a quietly seductive quality to JD that is unsettling in the best possible way. He may be unhinged but that can still be too hypnotic to resist sometimes.
Liberty Stottor, Jessica Ibadin and Lou Henry as the three Heathers, carry the show’s sharpest comic material with confidence and Liberty Stottor does an amazing job with Heather Chandler.
Not every performance on the night felt entirely settled but press night nerves and minor fumbles were dealt with well.
Sophie Manners makes her professional debut as Martha Dunnstock and brings a softness and vulnerability to the role of school outcast that feels genuinely fresh. Markus Södergren and Beau Jackson are suitably and gloriously goofy as Kurt and Ram, the brainless football-playing bullies of Westerberg High.
The set is simple but effective and keeps the focus where it belongs – on the performances and the songs. There’s a cheeky costume reveal in there too, which I had forgotten about and felt more flawless than I have seen before.
The Verdict
Heathers is a product of its time and the 2026 production does not shy away from that. References and language that would not be acceptable today are left intact as a reminder of how recently the world was a very different place. It is a reasonable creative decision and stays honest to the original language used in the film.
What Heathers the Musical does brilliantly is showcase exactly the kind of young, hungry, musical theatre talent that keeps this industry alive. Whether you are a devoted fan of the film or simply looking for a high-energy night of iconic songs and genuine comedy, this is a show that will have you bopping along from the first note to the last.
★★★★
Reviewed by West End Wilma
