THE JUICE IS LOOSE IN LONDON

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

I’ve never actually seen the Beetlejuice film. I know, I know… I’ve been told multiple times that that’s shocking behaviour. But honestly? I quite liked going into this one blind. No comparisons, no expectations about iconic scenes, no worrying whether it “lives up to the original”. Just me, sat in the audience, ready to see what all the hype was about. And after seeing Beetlejuice at the Prince Edward Theatre? The answer to “should I still go if I’ve never seen the film?” is a very loud YES.

Despite opening with a funeral and a song called Invisible, this show wastes absolutely no time launching itself into full chaos mode. From the very start, the energy levels are through the roof. It’s loud, ridiculous, chaotic, funny, slightly unhinged and honestly one of the most entertaining nights I’ve had in a theatre in a long time. I laughed constantly throughout, but what surprised me most was that it also managed to properly hit emotionally at points too.

There’s one moment between Lydia and her dad where she realises the reason he struggles to say her dead mum’s name is because it hurts too much. I was NOT expecting Beetlejuice of all things to have me subtly dabbing at my eyes at one point. The audience around me were completely invested too, with huge reactions throughout and applause breaking out constantly after big moments.

A TALENTED CAST THAT BRINGS THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ENERGY

The cast are genuinely incredible. How they sustain this level of energy eight shows a week is beyond me. The choreography is relentless, the vocals are massive, and nobody’s energy ever dips for a second. Even during huge ensemble moments, the stage never feels overcrowded or messy, which is impressive considering how big this cast is. Everyone gets their moment to shine, whether that’s through comedy, vocals, dancing or just fully committing to the absolute madness happening around them.

Hannah Nordberg absolutely owns the role of Lydia Deetz. Her voice is unreal. Every solo landed beautifully, but even during the big ensemble numbers, she somehow still stood out. She captures Lydia’s misery, sarcasm and emotional vulnerability so well, while still making you properly care about her throughout the show. There’s a real emotional journey to the character, and she balances the darker moments with the comedy brilliantly.

David Fynn as Beetlejuice is chaos in human form in the best possible way. Crude, unpredictable, completely ridiculous and fully aware of the madness around him. He’s got the audience eating out of the palm of his hand from the second he appears. It’s a performance that constantly feels like it could spiral off the rails at any second, but in a way that completely works for the character. His comic timing is brilliant, and he keeps the energy of the whole production racing forward.

DELIA, DEAD PEOPLE AND TOTAL SCENE STEALERS

I also loved Aimie Atkinson as Delia Deetz. She steals so many scenes with these bizarre guru-inspired sayings and kooky delivery as Lydia’s life coach. Her performance of No Reason alongside Lydia was a great moment for me. Not just because the vocals and harmonies were on point. But Delia’s dancing… honestly, it felt like I was watching myself on the dancefloor on a night out. Slut drop included, obsessed!

Then there’s David Hunter and Chelsea Halfpenny as Adam and Barbara Maitland, who are brilliantly awkward and painfully wholesome in a way that really works. Their chemistry is lovely, and watching them slowly loosen up and embrace the chaos around them becomes one of the show’s most enjoyable journeys. They bring a lot of heart to the production amongst all the ridiculousness, and the contrast between their nervous energy and Beetlejuice’s complete insanity works so well.

And I have to mention Chasity Crisp, who first appears as Maxine Dean and had me howling laughing almost immediately. Then, when she returns later as Juno, she gave me serious Roz from Monsters, Inc. energy and honestly? I loved it. The switch between the two characters is strong, and she fully commits to both performances. Every time she appeared on stage, she completely pulled focus.

BIG SETS, WEIRD CREATURES AND PURE THEATRE MAGIC

Visually, this production is HUGE. Even though most of the story centres around one house, the set constantly transforms around you. Rooms appear, decor changes, backdrops move, and everything feels incredibly fluid and fast-paced. There are so many transitions throughout the show, but they happen so slickly that the energy never stalls.

The design team have clearly gone all out. You’ve got giant sandworms, oversized Beetlejuice heads and hands, wild costumes, skeletons with oversized heads, fire effects, sparks, illusions and moments that genuinely make you sit there wondering “how on earth did they just do that?” And somehow, despite all the spectacle, it never tips too far into gimmicky territory. It still feels theatrical rather than relying purely on tricks.

The costumes are brilliant too, especially if you’re familiar with the film’s visuals. Beetlejuice’s iconic striped suit obviously gets its moment, but there are so many beautiful looks across the show. Delia’s finale outfit in particular? Obsessed. There’s a real balance between recreating recognisable looks and still having fun with the theatricality of it all.

RUDE, CHAOTIC AND AN ABSOLUTE BLAST

What Beetlejuice does really well is balance complete stupidity with actual heart. One minute there’s a wildly inappropriate joke or a ridiculously chaotic dance number, the next it’s hitting on grief, loneliness, family relationships and learning how to actually live your life fully. It’s rude, chaotic and packed with adult humour throughout, so definitely not one for the easily offended. But personally? Fully my kind of humour.

Beetlejuice at the Prince Edward Theatre is weird, wonderful and ridiculously entertaining from start to finish. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the film or, like me, going in completely blind, it absolutely delivers. It constantly feels like the production is trying to top itself, and somehow it keeps succeeding. The juice is very much loose in London… and I am already tempted to go back again. The audience energy was incredible, the cast were phenomenal, and by the final bows the entire theatre felt buzzing.

Beetlejuice is running at Prince Edward Theatre until Saturday 17 April 2027.

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Photo Credit: Johan Persson