Starlight Express
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Tickets
Nobody can do it like a Steam Train
The revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express is an entertaining sugar rush and completely unlike anything else currently in London. This was also a groundbreaking show in the 1980s when the Apollo Victoria Cinema was converted by John Napier to include racing tracks on two levels. Along which the cast dressed up as train (yes trains) raced along on roller skates up to speeds of 30mph.
At the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, current designer Tim Hately had a complete blank canvas to work on and as a result has taken immersive theatre to a whole new level! The Troubadour is a vast space and the ‘train tracks’ weave between the audience. There’s also a revolve, platforms, LED screens, and lots of surprises along the way. The set, coupled with Howard Hudson’s incredible lighting and Andrez Goulding’s video designs provide some absolute stunning effects that at times leave you with a lump in your throat.
The story is mind numbingly simple. Which type train is the fastest? Is it diesel, electric or steam, and apart from a bit of a love story, that is about it. A very welcome addition to the original story is that instead of a loud voiceover as ‘Control’, director Luke Sheppard has moulded the entire production as the dream of a train loving child. The child as ‘control’ in onstage throughout the performance and gives the whole production a dreamlike futuristic quality. A huge shoutout to Shaynan Ghai who was ‘control’ on the night I saw it. He was absolutely wonderful. A huge star in the making.
Rusty (Jeevan Braich) the steam train is the hero of the piece, a broken down train with big dreams and a bigger heart. Racing against him are Greaseball the diesel train (played for the first time by a female Al Knott – a great move it works well) and the camp as Christmas Electra (Tom Pigram) who raises many smiles. The confused love interest is Pearl the first class coach (Played on our night by Ashlyn Weekes).
Much of the score of Starlight Express is an earworm which has pleasantly plagued me for the last few days. Since its original opening in the 1980s songs have been dropped and new songs added. Many however, remain integral to the show, not only the titular song, but also “Rolling Stock”, “I Am the Starlight” (you HAVE to see the staging for this), “Light at the End of the Tunnel” and more. There are smiles along the way too as Lloyd Webber and lyricist Richard Stilgoe throw in comedy numbers like “One Rock and Roll too Many” and U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D. (based on the Tammy Wynette classic).
What makes this production of Starlight Express special is that it is bold and exciting. From the races themselves to the spectacular special effects. It is a feast for the senses. Bravo!
Wishing the cast and creatives a very happy 1st birthday at the Troubadour! I certainly hope you will be there for a long time yet!
TSE Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: Sammi O’Neill
Photo: Pamela Raith
Booking Information
Runs until 1st March 2026