Few shows can claim to exude the warmth, charm and pure joy of Here & Now - a brand new musical featuring the songs of pop royalty, Steps.

And the reason the show is such a joyful experience is the perfect storm of a number of things which have come together and just work so well.

Here & Now is based in a seaside superstore; Better Best Bargains, and follows the story of Caz, who discovers that the shelves of the store are stocked with lies and betrayal and the summer of love she and her friends dreamed of suddenly feels like a tragedy. All pun's intended!

However, when I took my seat in the auditorium tonight, I'm not sure I knew what to expect. Would this be a flash-in-the-pan creation with a weak storyline and songs crowbarred in for effect? We had a theatre filled with a real mix of invited guests, paying audience members and the band themselves - so the stage was set for a great evening but with anything like this there's always a risk.

What we ended up watching couldn't have been further away from 'weak' and 'crowbarred' if it tried. Here & Now is a beautifully constructed riot of colour, fun and music from the first beat to the very last bar.

This show is unashamedly camp, brash and in your face and every member of the audience was absolutely there for it. The laughs, applause and camaraderie in The Alexandra was palpable and created an unbeatable atmosphere.

The first point of congratulation has to go to Shaun Kitchener who wrote the book, and what a brilliant job he's done. Here & Now takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster with belly laughs coupled with tears and that's predominantly down to Kitchener's funny, clever and elegant script.

This musical is as hilarious as it is heartwarming and it hits all of the right notes effortlessly. Whilst it's absolutely down to the cast to deliver what's on the page, Kitchener should be applauded for giving them the tools to do that so well.

Talking of the cast, they are very much the backbone of the show - and what a slick, well choreographed bunch they are - and one who seem to be having the time of their lives on stage. The tone of this musical is incredibly important. There will almost certainly be a chunk of society who brush it off as 'yet another jukebox musical' so the concept needs to hit just right to garner credibility and longevity.

Sharlene Hector takes on the role of Vel and is simply brilliant. Her timing, charisma and deadpan delivery of many of her lines is outstanding and her (eventual!) chemistry with Helen Colbey as Tracy is executed perfectly.

Credit should also go to Finty Williams for a hilarious portrayal of Patricia, the overbearing (and ever-so slightly 'French'!) manager of Better Best Buys. That part could have been written for her and her comic ability is exceptional. She takes the concept of 'dry humour' to another level and it hits the spot perfectly.

However, for me, the night absolutely belonged to Rebecca Lock, who was simply world class.

Lock's CV is many performers dream and, with experience of that stature, you expect her to be good. However Lock's performance is other worldly. Her vocals are STUNNING and her renditions of both Heartbeat and One For Sorrow really expose the beautiful lyric of the songs.

Lock has a chemistry with the other leads which would make you believe she's been with the show for years rather than months, and I find it hard to believe that anyone could pull off the character of Caz as well as she does. Her mannerisms, her replies and her demeanour are all so perfectly on point it's hard to imagine this role could ever be played by anyone else.

Here & Now also has a predictably brilliant soundtrack with some incredibly strong arrangements. The show takes a cross section of some of Steps' biggest hits and re-jigs them to fit the show - but I think it's important here to point out that a chart record like Steps' doesn't immediately mean a killer soundtrack for musical theatre.

The two formats are very different, but what's beautiful is that Here & Now knows that they're working songs into the narrative - and they don't shy away from that. In fact it's done with a tip of the hat to the die-hard fans and at times, the script is almost panto-esque in how they tease the music to the audience.

The narrative weaves lyrics into the characters lines and immaculately hypes up the auditorium who erupt into applause almost spontaneously after each track. Iconic dance routines are sacrificed, with the ensemble instead taking inspiration and incorporating some of the moves (you can't sing Tragedy without the hands, right?!) but this isn't a Steps gig on stage.

Equally, whilst some of the songs are big dance numbers there are also a handful which are stripped back to just a voice and single instrument and that really exposes the lyrics of the songs and the storytelling nature of so many of them.

Songs you'd never normally give a second thought to whilst you do the hand movements at a gig, or when you hear them on the radio - but when a show deconstructs Heartbeat and aligns it to a story about baby loss, you very quickly realise the poignancy of the words and they take on a very different meaning.

Can we also have a moment for the megamix. 

There are so many shows nowadays, not least those with pop soundtracks, that hold back until the end for full indulgence. I can honestly say that the Here & Now megamix beats the others hands down. It's a show in it's own right and it's the point where we see some of the dance routines created more faithfully.

Granted, the subject matter lends itself to the concept well, and it helped that we were treated to half of 'Stomp' performed by the band themselves, but even if they won't be at every show (spoiler...they won't!) the cast still execute their back catalogue with skill. 

What should also be applauded is Here & Now's unmentioned use of LGBTQ+ characters. The inclusion of gay characters isn't something that has any more or less prominence than that of heterosexual ones and it was such a refreshing take on the world we live in.

Here & Now is a masterclass in jukebox musical theatre and is easily one of the best shows in the UK for so many reasons. It's one of a handful that I've seen in the last 12 months where I feel compelled to go back. I was so in the moment I know I missed in jokes and some brilliant lines delivered by a stellar cast - this isn't just a show for Steps fans, it's a show for anyone who loves musical theatre and should definitely be one on your to do list.

Here & Now plays at The Alexandra until 30th November 2024, before heading out on a UK tour - including dates in Wolverhampton - from September 2025. For more information, or to get your tickets, visit