Burlesque: The Musical
The Alhambra Theatre.
This week, I headed to the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford for Burlesque The Musical, the stage adaptation of the much-loved 2010 film starring Christina Aguilera and Cher. A huge thank you to Leanne and the team for the press invite.
The story follows Ali Rose, a small-town girl who arrives in New York searching for the mother she has never known. Her search leads her into the world of Burlesque, where she discovers a new family, falls in love and, most importantly, finds her voice.
It is a familiar story of chasing dreams and finding your place, but for me, the storyline is not really why you go to see a show like Burlesque. I wanted the music, the costumes, the dancing, the glitz and the complete spectacle of it all.
And it certainly delivers!
Christina Aguilera's influence runs throughout the production, and I loved how noticeable it was. From the powerhouse vocals to the attitude, styling and choreography, there were so many moments that took me straight back to the original film and that era of pop music. It has plenty of nostalgia, but never feels like it is simply trying to recreate what has already been done.
Gracie O'Brien takes on the role of Ali Rose in her professional stage debut and has the huge task of stepping into a character so closely associated with Christina Aguilera. Her vocals are incredible, and there were several moments where I found myself waiting for her next big number just to hear what she was going to do with it.
Faye Brookes brings confidence and warmth to Tess Richarde, while Ryan Carter as Sean and Ms Loretta was one of my favourite parts of the show. He brings so much humour to the production and had some of the biggest laughs of the evening.
The choreography was another real highlight for me. It is fast, slick and polished, but still has that cheeky side you expect from Burlesque. There is so much happening on stage, yet it never feels messy or overcrowded. I found myself constantly watching different parts of the ensemble because there was always something going on.
The lighting and staging work brilliantly alongside it. For such a big, bold show, it could easily have tipped into being too much, but I thought the balance was spot on. The use of screens and projections keeps the set changes seamless and gives the whole production a much bigger feel without distracting from the performers.
Then there are the costumes...
I could quite happily talk about them for the rest of this review.
Sequins, corsets, leather, sparkle and feathers fill the stage, and I genuinely did not know where to look at times. Every number seemed to bring another costume that I'd love to be able to wear.
Burlesque knows exactly what sort of show it wants to be. It is bold, glamorous, funny and completely unapologetic about being excessive.
The plot may be predictable, but when the music starts, the lights come up and the stage fills with dancers and sequins, I really did not care! This is the kind of musical I love seeing. One where you can switch off for a couple of hours, enjoy the spectacle and leave the theatre feeling like you have actually had a night out.
I left with the songs firmly stuck in my head, several costumes I desperately wanted to steal and a renewed urge to watch the film again!
Burlesque The Musical is at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford from the 22nd to 26th of September 2026. You can purchase tickets here.
