The self proclaimed most sensational rock n roll musical of all time is back! This multi award-winning West End show first opened in 1989 and has thrilled over 22 million people around the world ever since. It has inspired a generation of multi-million selling jukebox musicals, including Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, and Jersey Boys and now it triumphantly returns for its 2023 UK Tour, and you can see it at The Regent Theatre in Stoke On Trent.
You can experience the drama, passion and excitement as a superb multi-talented cast of actor-musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his Texas rockabilly beginnings, his meteoric rise to fame after releasing “That’ll be the day” with his band the Crickets in 1957 and his iconic final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic and untimely death at the young age of just 22.
I didn’t know what to expect from this one on my way to the theatre. Everyone has heard Buddy’s music, wether you know it or not, and whilst I knew that Buddy died in a plane crash, I had no idea he was so young. I also had no idea that we also lost Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in the same accident. I loved Jersey Boys, so I had a feeling that this would be right up my alley, and I wasn’t wrong.
A.J. Jenks portrayed Buddy fantastically, with a youthful likability and charm. He owned the stage and made that guitar sing! Christopher Weeks, Joe Butcher & Josh Haberfield were brilliant as his band the Crickets, with some truly knock out performances! Joe was even stood on top of his double bass at one point! What a showman! I lost count of how many different characters Thomas Mitchells played, but he was possibly the best “Everyman” I’ve ever seen in a musical. The host with the most, he brought a huge amount of wit & humour to the proceedings.
The show comes to a conclusion after what I would call an amazing tribute to Buddy Holly, a throwback to his final performance at the Surf Ball room. Jenks is joined on stage by Miguel Angel as Ritchie Valens & Christopher Chandler as The Big Bopper. This is when the show truly comes to life! The audience were dancing in the aisles and the atmosphere was electric!
The incredible renditions of Buddy’s classic songs made all of this 70 year old music sound brand new, and I’d even liken the sound of some of it to punk & ska. The sound quality was superb and the whole cast came together to finish the show off to a rapturous applause, quite literally leaving the whole audience begging for more.
With two terrific hours of some of the greatest songs ever written, including That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave On, Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba, the Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace, Johnny B. Goode, Raining In My Heart, Everyday, Shout and many more, you can immerse yourself in the incredible legacy of the young man with glasses, whose musical career spanned an all too brief period during the golden years of Rock & Roll.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story is playing at the Regent Theatre NOW until and including Saturday 1st July. Tickets are on sale and are available from the Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7649 or visiting www.atgtickets.com/stoke