Featuring the music of Steps, Here & Now is, ultimately, a harmless comedy romp that doesn’t particularly warrant a full-blown step-by-step analysis. Scratch beneath the shiny, glittery surface and you’ll find a barely tangible plot, nonsensical twists and characters that are little more than tired stereotypes. But if you allow your brain to switch off and stop questioning the absurd reality of this musical, you are sure to have a lot of fun indeed. Set amidst the supermarket aisles of ‘Better Best Bargains’, the show follows the staff on checkouts 5, 6, 7, 8 (see what they did there?) as they negotiate difficulties in their relationships, which subsequently start to bleed into their professional lives. The supermarket backdrop allows for some excellent, unique choreography, and it is in these lively dance numbers that the show really soars.
Caz (Laura Denning) finds herself struggling with a midlife crisis as she approaches her 50th, stuck in a dead-end relationship with Chris Grahamson’s Gareth and attempting to become an adoptive mother. As she finds herself turned down again by social services, Denning performs ‘Better Best Forgotten’, which immediately bleeds into a much more exciting opening number ‘Stomp‘, introducing the full cast and setting the scene for what is to come. Tom Rogers’ set design opens up to reveal aisles of cereal boxes, detergents and toilet rolls, all brightly lit thanks to Howard Hudson’s lighting design which reflects the artificial atmosphere of a cheap, clinical supermarket. The show is immediately loud and in-your-face, which can take a bit of getting used to – the production is pantomime-esque in its approach, each character extremely energetic and over-the-top.
Jacqui Dubois’ Vel is another checkout assistant who is stuck in a relationship she doesn’t want to be in, with car park attendant Lesley (John Stacey). Cue a fairly comical routine in which Vel attempts to break up with Lesley, which is fairly run-of-the-mill (nothing in this musical feels particularly original) but is still funny nonetheless. Vel certainly proves to be a favourite with the audience, mostly due to Dubois’ comic timing, although her story takes a particularly unexpected turn in the second act, with a left-field choice to force her into another romantic relationship, which lacks chemistry despite some meal-deal-related foreshadowing. A heartfelt attempt to makes this romance more meaningful (‘It’s the way you make me feel‘) isn’t enough to save it, and the entire thing falls a bit flat.
Faring better in the chemistry department are Rosie Singha’s Neeta and Ben Darcy’s Ben, who are both clearly attracted to each other but struggle to articulate their feelings. It’s a story we’ve all seen before, and Singha perhaps comes across as a little too self-confident for the storyline to always ring true, but this is still an enjoyable romantic plotline. Their story comes to an end with a romantic number by the bins (‘Story of a Heart’) and it is these tongue-in-cheek moments that make the show ever more entertaining – the show knows how cheesy it is, and leans into it.
Completing the four main checkout assistants is Robbie (understudy Dean Rickards), who, despite claiming that he is happy flitting from fling to fling, finds himself quickly falling for famous drag queen Jem (River Medway), who just happens to be shopping in a bargain supermarket and immediately agrees to a date when propositioned at the checkout. It’s unbelievable, but so are most things in this show. Medway, despite appearing as a Starlight Express-reject minus the rollerskates, brings some extra glamour to the show, with a standout turn in the song ‘Chain Reaction‘, which sees the drag queen emerging from a freezer dressed as a bag of frozen veg (yes, really).
Throughout it all, this musical cannot help but bring a smile to your face, and the catchy numbers will have you tapping your feet and clapping along at certain points. Director Rachel Kavanaugh and Choreographer Matt Cole continually find inventive ways to up the fun-factor, with dance numbers involving rubber rings, supermarket trolleys, and kangaroo-shaped bum bags. Shaun Kitchener’s book leaves a little to be desired, especially when trying to divert the musical down more emotional routes – a plotline involving a stillborn baby feels particularly mishandled. The best way to enjoy this musical is to ignore the plot and enjoy the more bizarre moments – the half-price hoedown is a particular highlight which is completely absurd and rather brilliant.
Steps’ songs are difficult to sing, and the cast struggle at times with the complicated vocals. Matt Spencer-Smith provides the musical arrangement, and the culmination of Act One sees several Steps songs coincide, which is a stroke of genius and builds to a fitting pre-interval showstopper.
This musical is full of characters that you cannot help but like, even if investing in their storylines is a struggle at times. The evening finishes with a (seemingly never-ending) medley of Steps songs which is sure to have the fans on their feet for a suitably glam finale. Fun, camp and utterly ludicrous.
Tom Morley, November 2025
Review Round-up:
Theatre and Tonic: Here and Now – The Steps Musical – 4 stars from T&T, who commends the musical’s “smooth transitions from plot into song, eye-catching costuming and set design, and strong comedic characters”
WhatsOnStage – Here and Now Review – Also 4 stars from WoS, who say “there are moments of ludicrous hyperbole, but the show’s tongue is so firmly in its cheek it manages to get away with it”
Spyinthestalls – HERE AND NOW review – Seems most reviewers are on the same page with this one, with another 4 stars from spyinthestalls, who point out that, “though the plot and characters are a little flimsy, the knockout performances, irreverent self-awareness, laugh-out-loud moments and driving score will have you dancing in the (supermarket) aisles!“
Edit: Since I wrote this review, I’ve spotted some more polarising views online – turns out we’re not all quite as on the same page as I first thought (although at 3 stars, I am firmly on the fence)
East Midlands Theatre – Review: Here and Now. – A huge 5* from EMT, who go heavy on the Steps-related puns, saying “it’s steps-tacular, stomptastic, and would be a true tragedy to miss it”
Jack Stage UK – Here & Now: The Steps Musical – On the other end of the scale, 2* from Jack Stage UK, who says “multiple narratives and plot points aren’t fully formed to their potential […] the scripting is often forced to wrap itself around the songs”
Broken Legs Blog 