SuperYou is a unique, modern musical celebrating individuality and self-belief. Written by Lourds Lane and directed by Joann M. Hunter, the show carries a strong message that true heroic powers come from within.
The sung-through production follows comic book artist Katie (Vicki Manser) as she navigates love, loss, and life’s many other challenges. Two timelines play out at the same time- one telling the story of young Katie (Aaliyah Monk) and her brother Matty’s (Owen Lloyd) childhood and their shared passion for art, and the other portraying Katie in the present as she struggles to reconnect with her drawings. This creates a deeper understanding of the character and the journey she goes on, and keeps the audience engaged.
The show manages to balance serious topics such as domestic violence, alcoholism, and grief with light-hearted moments of fun and comic relief, in a way that doesn’t detract from the importance of the issues but instead raises awareness of their complexities. The tone of the production seems to change in the second act as the characters have been established, getting more emotional and reflective, and diving deeper into Katie’s state of mind.
The soundtrack (Lourds Lane) features a wide variety of genres, meaning there is something that appeals to everyone. The music is primarily rock and pop, but also features powerful, heartfelt ballads, hip-hop, and even a country number. Where some of the lyrics feel a bit basic, they make up for this with their catchy, repeated hooks. The songs are complimented well by Joann M. Hunter’s exciting choreography, creating comic-style action sequences (with Will Bozier as villain Mi-Roar) and dynamic group routines.
Monk perfectly brings this choreography to life with her incredible dance talent and energy. A highlight of this show, and something that makes it different from traditional musicals, is its clever use of video (Caite Hevner) and comic-book drawings to really immerse the audience into Katie’s world. The displays create a sense of awe and add an impressive new dimension to the performance.
Manser leads the cast well with her breathtaking vocals and clear understanding of the character she portrays. Her team of superheroes, The Boltz (Courtney Stapleton, B Noel Thomas, Lourds Lane, and Kingsley Morton), each showcase their unique talent and individuality, whilst coming together to be a force for good against the pressures of the outside world. Belinda Lee Chapman gives a standout performance as Katie’s mother, seamlessly demonstrating the intricacies of human experience and dealing with the topic of alcoholism and loss effectively.
Damien Walsh plays charming love interest Jay and his songs with Manser make the audience fall for the duo. Lloyd’s performance as Matty brings a fun, youthful energy to the piece. The small ensemble of ‘superyoumans’ are a brilliant addition and command attention every time they appear on stage. SuperYou gives every cast member their own moment to shine, which is a credit to its message of celebrating diversity.
The set (Anna Louizos) makes good use of the studio space. Whilst it is not the most complicated design, it clearly distinguishes between the two timelines and the different levels allow the cast to move around the space in creative ways. The band can also be seen throughout the whole show, giving the audience the opportunity to appreciate their talent. Cynthia Nordstrom’s costume design is vibrant, colourful, and shows the transformation of the characters as the performance goes on. The costumes go hand in hand with the dazzling lighting by Ryan J. O’Gara, which further creates the spectacle of a superhero universe.
Everyone in today’s world has something that makes them different and SuperYou celebrates this. The show emphasises the importance of being your true self and not letting outside influences change you- a crucial message in modern society. The inclusive casting means that everyone can see themselves in the characters and feel represented and empowered, like they too can be a superhero.
SuperYou runs at Leicester Curve until 9th November. For tickets and more information, click here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Pamela Raith
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