Review: Calamity Jane | UK tour, Glasgow

Name: Calamity Jane the musical
Brand: UK tour
Rating: 3 (1 reviews)

Lisa in the theatre
Jul 3
4 min read

Updated: Jul 4

The UK tour revival of classic musical comedy Calamity Jane has arrived in Glasgow. The much-loved musical plays at The King's Theatre until Saturday 5th July and stars West End favourite Carrie Hope Fletcher as Calamity.

Review: The King's Theatre, Glasgow | 1 July 2025

Calamity Jane the musical ★★★☆☆

1870s USA: The Deadwood saloon in rural Dakota is in need of a beautiful lady entertainer for their nightly stage show. When the latest hire turns out to be a man, the locals are unimpressed and on the verge of a riot. Local sharpshooter Calamity Jane vows to venture off to Chicago to entice famous singer Adelaide Adams back to Deadwood. But a case of mistaken identity threatens to scupper Calamity's plans, and she may just have brought a love rival to Deadwood instead.

With a top-notch creative team at the helm, including renowned director Nikolai Foster and choreographer Nick WInston, this production of Calamity Jane was always going to be well produced and presented. And indeed the staging and choreography are gorgeous.

A company of actor-musicians weave amongst the piano and chairs of the Deadwood Saloon providing the live music for the entire show. And despite some of the action taking place on a small stage at the back of the actual stage, the open set and clever staging ensure the audience don't miss a thing. Tim Mitchell's lighting enhances the reds and golds in the curtains, and with added footlights on both stages, gives the Deadwood Saloon a balmy, seductive ambience.

Matthew Wright's impressive set wraps around the wings looking more solid and substantial than your typical tour stage dressing. An inventive use of props transform the saloon fixings into the Deadwood stagecoach. It appears from nowhere and is no less magical each time it happens.

Carrie Hope Fletcher in Calamity Jane the musical UK tour. Credit: Mark Senior

Carrie Hope Fletcher is Calamity Jane

Carrie Hope Fletcher's star burns oh so bright. Her comic timing and charming stage presence make her the perfect charismatic Calamity. Her solo 'Secret Love' is the highlight of the show - her vocals crisp and powerful. But there are few other songs to challenge her or show off her extraordinary vocal ability in this score.

The Calamity Jane soundtrack is enjoyable. Standout songs 'The Black Hills of Dakota' and 'The Deadwood Stage' are sensibly repeated throughout the show and never fail to get the audience excited. The duet 'A Woman's Touch' between Fletcher and Seren Sandham-Davies is delightful, and adds a colourful, skillfully choreographed moment that breaks up the mostly brown palette of the stage.

Lead cast members Vinny Coyle (Wild Bill Hicock), Luke Wilson (Danny) and Seren Sandham-Davies (Katie Brown) as well as Fletcher are all very strong in their roles, playing the characters with exaggerated good-nature and tons of spirit, just as you would expect to see in a 1953 rootin-tootin, commercial Hollywood western set in the 1870s. Some of the other acting and accents didn't fare so well - especially near the start of Act I - but they soon found their footing.

Vinny Coyle in Calamity Jane the musical UK tour. Credit: Mark Senior

This is Doris Day's Wild West

Act One is where all the drama happens, but the show only really engages the audience during the big musical numbers. Act Two has barely any plot, but does step up the energy in terms of crowd pleasing song and dance. Of course this quaint musical based on a Doris Day film ends on a cutesy high note, but it does rely on some old-fashioned tropes to get us there.

Calamity Jane is a little outdated and a little tame for the Wild West, but it has a scattering of beautiful songs that will invoke a strong sense of nostalgia for those of us who grew up watching the Doris Day film. It's light-hearted fun - just as you would expect a classic, conservative 1950's film to translate to the stage. It may not appeal to those looking for cutting-edge theatre or deep storytelling; but with gorgeous visuals, catchy songs, an enthusiastic cast and even a hoedown at the curtain call, this uplifting musical is sure to leave you line-dancing out the theatre. ★★★☆☆

Calamity Jane plays The King's Theatre, Glasgow from 1st - 5th July 2025. Then continues on tour across the UK. Buy tickets here