one4review | On 06, Aug 2025

Based on the cult show of the same name this popular 00’s show potrayed the fictional lives of footballers, their clubs and their wives. The show was full of scandal, affairs and several shockingly raunchy scenes that it is hard to comprehend how someone could make a musical out of this, but they did.

From the beginning, the show was full of glam, and amazingly accurate fashion of the WAGs of the 00’s. Costume changes were slick and effective and the use of the props and staging proved effective. This production effectively summarised all the seasons in one show, altering the original storylines slightly so that the show made sense. The show centres on the characters of Tanya and Jason Turner and how their strong and commanding characters influenced/impacted on others around.

The show introduced some other popular characters and gave a snapshot into their biggest storylines in season 1 however they were generally in the background. There were some exaggerations to the characters of Chardonnay and Kyle Pascoe, which gave the production some humour. The musical numbers were catchy and sung beautifully but the cast, all having the most powerful of voices. They sang along to live music effortlessly which is always a plus for me, opposed to a backing tape.

Footballers Wives was known for its many sex scenes and I was intrigued to know how they would do this without making the audience feel awkward. The cast professionally maintained the raunchiness of the original show but kept it tasteful. The scantily clad wardrobe heightened the sexual allure of the show without crossing the boundaries of live theatre.

This show received a standing ovation at the end and it was truly deserved. Tonight’s show was almost sold out. I am struggling to find any criticism on this evening’s performance and would highly recommend if you were a fan of this early 00’s cult.

*****

Reviewed by Tracey

Assembly Rooms – Music Hall

18.35 (1hr 20mins)

Until 24 Aug (not 13)