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Mary Poppins UK Tour review 2025 | Edinburgh - A perfectly polished triumph

Writer's picture: Lisa in the theatreLisa in the theatre

Updated: 21 hours ago

Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film | Music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman; new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe

Book by Julian Fellowes | Directed by Richard Eyre | Co-directed and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne


Edinburgh Festival Theatre | 30 January 2025


Photos: Danny Kann


MARY POPPINS UK Tour 2025 - Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins. Photo: Danny Kaan.


Mary Poppins review | 2025 UK Tour ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s lavish new UK tour production of the multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins has arrived in Edinburgh. With jaw-dropping sets, exquisite dancers, a timeless score and more than a hint of theatrical magic, this stage adaptation of the classic tale of the world's most extraordinary nanny is one of the most sensational shows I've ever seen at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. Or at any theatre. It's outstanding.


Jane and Michael Banks are in need of a new nanny, but they have some very exacting requests.

The nanny must be kind and funny, sing songs, take them on outings, never be cruel nor smell bad.

Seems fair!


When the mysterious Mary Poppins appears seemingly out of nowhere, she teaches the children and the adults of the Banks family a lesson or two, whist taking them on adventures far beyond their wildest dreams.


MARY POPPINS UK Tour 2025 - Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins with Charlie Donald (Michael Banks) and Florence Swann (Jane Banks). Photo: Danny Kaan.

Mary Poppins the musical has to be one of the best rehearsed, precisely managed and expertly delivered pieces of live theatre I've ever had the honor to witness. It's a massive, complex production with a sizeable company, many moving set pieces and a huge variety of scenes; yet every second of it is exquisite. It's a remarkable achievement. I can only imagine the number of people working backstage as well as out front to pull off something of this magnitude.


It's a cliche to say that it's practically perfect in every way, but it bloomin well is!!


Bob Crowley's set design is ingenious and his costumes are stunning. Hugh Vanstone's lighting and Paul Gatehoues's sound design are impeccable. This show is so rich and has such fine detail: From the intimate scenes in the Banks home and children's bedroom, to the show stopping full scale dance numbers like Jolly Holiday and Chim Chim Cher-ee, every scene and every person is lit well and can be heard perfectly. Cameron Mackintosh and Disney have called in the best technical theatre wizards for this major UK and Ireland tour.


MARY POPPINS UK Tour 2025 - Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert with the cast. Photo: Danny Kaan.

To compliment the gorgeous sets, striking costumes and sensational cast, we are also treated to adorable puppets, impressive projections, and genuinely astonishing illusions. I have no idea how the majority of the tricks were done. Mary Poppins will make your children believe in magic!


Matthew Bourne's choreography is, as is to be expected, innovative, intricate and dazzling. But its not only the choreography during the dance numbers that impresses; the inter-twinning set pieces and scene changes are performed like dance numbers too. Every prop glides and twirls with a bewitching flair, yet never detracts from the central narrative. It's spellbinding.


MARY POPPINS. Stefanie Jones (Mary Poppins), Sharon Wattis (Mrs Corry), Jack Chambers (Bert) and Company. Photo Danny Kaan


Who's in the cast of Mary Poppins 2025 UK tour?


Leading the cast, acclaimed Australian stars, Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers reprise their roles from the Australian production playing Mary Poppins and Bert respectively. They are both simply phenomenal.


Chambers' Bert is charming and cheerful, and his tap dancing is sensational. Jones's Mary Poppins could not be more perfect. Every song, every facial expression, even her posture - all sublime. At the curtain call, their timing and synchronisation with one another during a really intricate dance routine is inconceivable. (I will put a video on my Instagram.) Their stamina, courage and talent is astonishing.


Jones and Chambers are supported by the incredible award-winning West End and Broadway star Michael D Xavier (My Fair Lady) as George Banks - who is as brilliant as always, but is also absolutely hilarious in this role - and the fabulous Lucie-Mae Sumner (I Should Be so Lucky) as Winifred Banks.


Rosemary Ashe (Mrs Brill), Patti Boulaye (Bird Woman), Wendy Ferguson (Miss Andrew), Sharon Watts (Mrs Corry) and a company of world-class talent all impress. This is a remarkable ensemble cast with everyone playing their part to deliver an exemplary musical masterpiece.





The timeless Mary Poppins score includes classic songs by The Sherman Brothers: Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Let's Go Fly a Kite and Feed the Birds, as well as new songs and additional music and lyrics by Olivier award-winning George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The score is performed by a magnificent live orchestra. The quality of the sound, the sheer nostalgia and stellar performances of these much-loved songs were so rousing that it brought tears to my eyes.


Mary Poppins really has everything. Close your mouth Lisa, we are not a cod fish.


This production of Mary Poppins is a perfectly polished triumph.

Fly your umbrellas and kites to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre immediately. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


🌂 Mary Poppins is at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh NOW until Saturday 15 February 2025 and then continues on tour across the UK in 2025. Find full tour dates here


MARY POPPINS UK Tour 2025 - Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert with the cast. Photo: Danny Kaan.

Also playing in Edinburgh this week: Chicago! Read my review of Chicago at Edinburgh Playhouse here.

Chicago Edinburgh review


Mary Poppins 2025 UK Tour Dates


Mary Poppins UK & Ireland Tour dates 2025

🌂 EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE


🌂 PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL

From 26th February 2025 | https://marypoppins.co.uk/


🌂 MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE

From 9th April 2025 | Tickets: www.atgtickets.com


🌂 BRADFORD THE ALHAMBRA THEATRE

From 21st May 2025 | https://marypoppins.co.uk/


🌂 BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

From 16th July 2025 | https://marypoppins.co.uk/


🌂 SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE

From 27th August 2025 | https://marypoppins.co.uk/


🌂 SUNDERLAND EMPIRE

From 1st October 2025 | Tickets: www.atgtickets.com


🌂 MILTON KEYNES THEATRE

From 29th October 2025 | Tickets: www.atgtickets.com


🌂 CARDIFF

From 3rd December 2025 | https://marypoppins.co.uk/


 




Coming soon to Scotland's Theatres:


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