Review: Mean Girls musical UK tour, Glasgow

Name: Mean Girls (musical)
Brand: UK Tour
Rating: 3 (1 reviews)

Lisa in the theatre
Jun 30
4 min read

Updated: Jul 8

Tina Fey's Mean Girls musical is on tour across the UK and has now arrived in Glasgow for a two-week run. The show is at The King's Theatre until Saturday 11th July. Read my review here.

Faye Tozer and the cast of Mean Girls the musical UK tour. Photo credit: Paul Coltas — Mean Girls the musical UK tour. Photo: Paul Coltas

Mean Girls (musical) UK Tour ★★★☆☆

Review: 29 June 2026 | King's Theatre, Glasgow

After a successful year in London's West End, musical comedy Mean Girls - based on the 2004 Lindsay Lohan film of the same name - is now on an extensive UK and Ireland tour throughout 2026. It plays at the King's Theatre, Glasgow, this week. With a book by esteemed American actress, writer and comedian Tina Fey - the writer of the original film - Mean Girls the musical has some serious comedy credentials.

The stage musical version of Mean Girls has the same plot as the Paramount Pictures film: Cady Heron (Emily Lane) is the new girl at North Shore High School. Home-schooled for her entire life, and recently relocated from Africa, Cady is thrown into the lion's den of the high school's various friend groups and cliques. From The Nerds and The Mathletes, to The Jocks and The Plastics, Cady discovers that high school can be a wild and dangerous place.

Cady befriends outcasts Damian (Max Gill) and Janis (Georgie Buckland) who spill the tea about the school's key players and advise her on the many social dos and don'ts. They warn her away from Queen Bee Regina George (cover Lillia Squires at this performance), head of the vicious rich girl trio The Plastics. But when Regina unexpectedly invites Cady to join their exclusive gang, Janis hatches a plan to bring the Mean Girls down once and for all.

Georgie Buckland, Max Gill and Emily Lane in Mean Girls the musical UK tour. Photo credit: Paul Coltas — Georgie Buckland, Max Gill and Emily Lane in Mean Girls. Photo: Paul Coltas

A fun, enjoyable musical

Mean Girls the musical can't compete with the great classics of musical theatre like Phantom of the Opera, Les Mis or Hamilton, and this UK tour production isn't as strong as the original, iconic film, but it is a fun, enjoyable musical. Tina Fey's script is full of smart jokes and witty, often catty dialogue, and her show is bursting with unforgettable, iconic characters.

That's where the musical Mean Girls shines brightest - with all the brilliant supporting characters. Regina's sidekicks, the air-brained Karen and complex Gretchen Wieners, are expertly and hilariously realised by Sophie Pourret and Kiara Dario respectively. While CBBC star Karim Zeroual is irrepressibly buoyant as super-nerd Kevin Ganatra.

Max Gill's gleeful Damian is a joy, and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland alum Georgie Buckland's Janis steals the show with her exceptional, powerhouse vocals and superb stage presence.

Pop band Steps legend Faye Tozer is superb as all three female adult characters - Cady's mum Mrs Heron, Teacher Ms Norbury and most outrageous of all, Regina's mum Mrs George. Tozer has some pretty quick changes throughout the show and is impressive at every turn.

Faye Tozer in Mean Girls the musical UK tour. Photo credit: Paul Coltas — Faye Tozer. Photo: Paul Coltas

Mean Girls gives us some superb musical theatre songs, with the fast-paced 'Revenge Party' an excellent example. Karen's hilarious pop song 'Sexy' about her love for Halloween is a highlight, as is 'World Burn' - Regina George's delicious villain song. But again, Georgie Buckland reigns supreme with Janis's powerful anthem "I'd Rather Be Me" - a number about standing up to bullies and being yourself - which received the most enthusiastic applause all evening.

For all the strong songs, there are also a lot of not-so-memorable numbers in the score. And the book does lose some of its depth as it makes room for all the songs. The character arcs are resolved a little too quickly; blink and you'll miss the reasons for all the changes of heart at the end. However, with prolific West End and Broadway director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw at the helm, the show moves at a steady pace and every musical number sizzles with explosive energy. The dancers in the ensemble perform his creative, sharp routines with impressive, infectious enthusiasm.

It lacks the vibrancy and colour that were so synonymous with the same show in London

The set and production values for the UK tour of Mean Girls, however, are a major step down from the West End presentation. The bright, brilliant video screens have been replaced by a lacklustre backdrop, while the patchy lighting does nothing to help lift the visuals. The performers' faces were often in shadow during their solo numbers, and it was tricky to pick out the vocalists during the ensemble numbers. Mean Girls on tour, unfortunately, lacks the vibrancy and colour that were so synonymous with the same show at the Savoy Theatre in London.

But the timelessness of the core idea - teenagers still want to fit in in 2026 and will always make mistakes trying to do so - coupled with enduring nostalgia for the original film and the strength of this exciting young cast, saves the show. With all the iconic scenes and quotable lines from the film present and correct, there's plenty to love about Mean Girls the musical. It should prove especially popular with younger theatre goers. ★★★☆☆

Mean Girls is at Glasgow King's until Saturday 11th July 2026 and then continues on tour across the UK.