Review: Hamilton UK tour, Glasgow | Immaculate, iconic, unmissable
- Lisa in the theatre
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
History has its eyes on Glasgow this month as Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash-hit musical Hamilton arrives in the city for the very first time as part of the inaugural UK tour. The Theatre Royal, Glasgow - the city's oldest theatre - plays host to the multi award-winning musical for two months this winter. Catch Hamilton in Glasgow from Wednesday 29 October to Saturday 27 December 2025.
Read my review of the Hamilton UK tour below and find out how it compares to the London West End production.
Hamilton UK tour ★★★★★
Review: 31 October 2025 | Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Celebrating ten years on Broadway and with a continued residency in London's West End, Hamilton the musical is a worldwide theatre sensation. The first ever UK and Ireland tour of Hamilton began in Manchester in November 2023 and now, two years later, that tour comes to a close with a two month run at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
Hamilton - A revolutionary moment in theatre
Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography, Hamilton the musical tells the story of one of America's Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton was an immigrant who became George Washington's trusted right-hand man during the American Revolutionary War, and thanks to his intellectual genius, helped shape the foundations of the American banking system and government.
Hamilton is a sung-through musical with Lin-Manuel Miranda's iconic book, music and lyrics blending hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap and R&B to tell this extraordinarily detailed and fascinating story. Miranda's musical has (in my opinion) the best book, musical score and lyrics in recent musical theatre history. But don't just take my word for it: Hamilton has won 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, 7 Olivier Awards, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Hamilton redefined musical theatre and is simply unmissable for any theatre fans when it's in Scotland this winter.
Hamilton - the UK tour v's London West End
I'm lucky enough to have seen Hamilton on stage in London's West End and I can tell you that this UK tour production now open in Glasgow is just as good. Absolutely nothing has been lost in terms of quality or content. The Glasgow Theatre Royal stage is a little smaller than the one at the Victoria Palace in London but David Korin's full set design makes the transfer, including the all important revolving stage floor. So important for key dramatic moments within the show, the revolve is also critical to fully showcase Andy Blankenbuehler's unmistakable choreography.
Every aspect of this production is immaculate, and as much as I am drawn to Hamilton because of the brilliance of the soundtrack, the riveting book and the jaw-dropping performances, the technical staging of Hamilton is also sublime and goes some way to making it the complete theatrical sensation that it is. Here in Glasgow Howell Binkley's intricate, perfectly timed lighting design is stunning, and Nevin Steinberg's sound is perfect. I fear Glasgow audiences will be spoiled for all future productions as Hamilton is just so good and so polished. It's a remarkable achievement in theatre design and production.
The cast for the UK tour production are also strong.
2024 Black British Theatre award-winner Marley Fenton leads the show in the title role. His superb, assured performance of A. Ham is note-perfect and his vocals are sublime. Hamilton's sparring partner Aaron Burr is played by the incredible Billy Nevers here. Nevers takes a different approach to the complex character, playing him softer, less arrogant than interpretations I've seen before. It's no secret that Aaron Burr has some of the best songs in Hamilton and Nevers' 'Wait For It' and 'The Room Where It Happens' were showstopping highlights of the night, perfectly showing off the actor's dynamic stage presence and mighty voice.
Sydney Spencer's Eliza was heartbreakingly beautiful, and Chasity Crisp's Angelica another standout, her powerhouse voice controlled and persuasive.
Hamilton's buddies KM Drew Boateng as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Ashley J. Daniels as the Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson and Shak Mancel James as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton were all magnificent. James' portrayal of young Philip in act two is easily the best portrayal of that role i've seen. He made him believably childlike and adorable. What a talent!
In a company full of world-class talent, Akmed Junior Khemalai's take on George Washington was exceptional, and Louis Maskell's King George sublime. Again, this is a different take on King George perhaps than what we're used to, but I love when actors make roles their own and Maskell has certainly done that here.
Supported by a fabulous ensemble of triple threat talent, this UK tour company for Hamilton could easily hold their own again their West End and Broadway counterparts.
Telling a remarkable true story of a remarkable man (with some theatrical license I'm sure), Hamilton the musical has a perfect book, unforgettable score, intelligent lyrics, and delivers a considered mix of drama, historical facts and hilarious camp fun. The show itself is iconic, and this UK tour production of it is immaculate. Believe the hype! ★★★★★
Catch Hamilton in Glasgow from Wednesday 29 October to Saturday 27 December 2025. Buy your tickets here
Hamilton UK tour cast 2025
Glasgow 31 October 2025
Alexander Hamilton Marley Fenton
Aaron Burr Billy Nevers
Eliza Hamilton Sydney Spencer
Angelica Schuyler Chasity Crisp
Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds Naomi Katiyo
Hercules Mulligan/James Madison KM Drew Boateng
Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson Ashley J. Daniels
John Laurens/Philip Hamilton Shak Mancel James
George Washington Akmed Junior Khemalai
King George Louis Maskell
Ensemble / swings:
Simeon Beckett, Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez, Richard Logun, Tamara Morgan, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Izzy Read, Harry Robinson, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Samantha Shuma, Michael James Stewart, Jack Whitehead and Sian Yeo. Sylvie Stenson, Jonathan Andre, Melad Hamidi, Imogen Rose Hart, Bethany Kate, Jago Mottart, Patrick Munday, Chris Otim, Castell Parker, Eva Phillips, Ethan Vijn, Lashane Williams and Ynez Williams.
