The corporation has gone three for three at the West End with The Lion King, Frozen and now Hercules taking over London's oldest venues. All have saturated their stone buildings with Mickey's signature shade of unapologetic technicolour, and Hercules is the most vibrant yet.
While other musicals have often failed to capture the certain brand of sparkle their source material presented, Hercules nails it – How? By being so over the top you can't see the peak of Mount Olympus anymore.
The sets are bigger than you could possibly imagine, in one moment you're basking in the romance of Herc and Meg's delicate rose garden, the next, Hades is descending dramatically on a rusty walkway in an Underworld that carries the vibe of a sad school disco.
Meanwhile, the props are sized up to fit the space. Cyclopses, Hydra, giant dog-rat things – it's been a while since I brushed up on my mythology – pour onto stage in all their slobbering glory to give the kids a healthy dose of fear. Plus, most the effects are done practically which is a huge achievement – a particular shoutout to the clever way they show souls roaming free in the Underworld.
After that, the next biggest bright spot is Stephen Carlile as Hades, who gleefully minces about the stage, relishing his villainy and pecking out his lines like an angry swan. I pondered beforehand how they would translate the blue-flamed cartoon version of Hades for stage audiences, turns out the solution was in perfectly delivered sarcasm and a stunning sequinned cape.
Alongside Meg, one welcome change from the original is that there is far more contribution from female characters in this adaptation. Herc's farmer father is swapped for a gentle mother, and Hera is allowed to shine over a slightly more myth-accurate (AKA less likeable) Zeus.
There are some other changes to the plot in the second act, but I won't spoil it, and it's not radical enough for film traditionalists to hate on.
It's got glitter and spectacle coming out of every pour, but manages to match that with heart and soul in abundance. So many West End shows at the moment are a straight-up Trojan Horse – luring you in with a shiny exterior, only to hit you with aggressively bad songs or plots inside – but I thank my lucky stars that Hercules isn't one of them.
When and where can I see Hercules at the West End?
Hercules is running at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 28th March 2026. Shows are every Monday to Saturday with tickets starting at £33.
Buy Hercules tickets at TodayTixBuy Hercules tickets at London Theatre DirectMake sure you also check out the best West End shows. Also, here's how to get cheap Cadbury World tickets.
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