Review: Here & Now the Steps musical | UK tour, Glasgow, Here and Now

The UK and Ireland tour of the new Steps musical Here and Now has its Scottish premiere at the King's Theatre Glasgow this week. Featuring music from beloved pop group Steps alongside an original fun-filled story, Here & Now plays at Glasgow King's from Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 September 2025 before continuing on UK tour, including dates in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Find Here & Now tour listings here Read my review of the Steps musical Here & Now below.

Rebecca Lock (centre) as Caz in HERE & NOW. Photo: Pamela Raith

Here and Now the Steps musical UK tour ★★★★☆

Review: 17 September 2025 | King's Theatre, Glasgow

Everybody clap your hands, get on up and dance... the UK's most successful mixed pop group of all-time Steps (Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee) have teamed up with music and theatre producers Pete Waterman and ROYO to create an original new musical.

Here & Now is a jukebox musical featuring Steps' most iconic pop tunes woven into a fun, original story. Set in Better Best Bargains - a seaside superstore - the story for Here & Now centres around a number of the shop employee's tragic love lives and their quest to find their happy ever afters. It's an upbeat, vibrant, hit-filled stage spectacular that's fantastically camp and comical; it's perfect pop escapism.

The story takes place wholly within Tom Rogers' bright, modern 'superstore' set, but large set pieces are constantly moved in and out to keep the backdrop to the storylines fresh. Beautifully lit by Howard Hudson, this is the brightest, most aesthetically pleasing, neon colour-coordinated shop to ever grace a stage. And that luster continues with Gabriella Slade's stunning costumes; never have shop tabards been so glam!

The cast of HERE & NOW. Photo: Pamela Raith

Here & Now musical review: Never too far from a pop banger and a sequin-clad dance routine

Shaun Kitchener's original book for Here & Now is packed with drama, excitement, laughs and romance. The plot has been written around Steps' back catalogue of course, but it works remarkably well. Finding out just how the creatives have managed to inject Steps varied dance-pop songs and lyrics into a heartfelt plot based around normal people working in an everyday shop is a huge part of the fun.

Skillfully directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, Here & Now showcases Steps' hits via an array of high-energy dance routines and beautifully performed solos. It turns out there are more than enough Steps classics to fill a two hour musical: Tragedy, Stomp, One For Sorrow, Better Best Forgotten, 5,6,7,8, Last Thing On My Mind and Love’s Got A Hold Of My Heart are all performed with gusto by the talented, enthusiastic cast and are heard loud and clear across the auditorium thanks to Adam Fisher's perfect sound design.

Performed by a company of energetic dancers and singers who embrace the stylish, lively choreography from Olivier Award-winning Matt Cole, Here and Now does have it's serious moments and relatable, heartfelt storylines, but it's never too far from a pop banger and a sequin-clad dance routine. It's really well balanced. Drag Queen Jem (River Medway)'s icy Chain Reaction in the frozen goods and electrical appliances aisle (yes really) is one of the more bonkers highlights.

River Medway as Jem in HERE & NOW. Photo: Pamela Raith

Rebecca Lock is outstanding

Here and Now boasts unexpected but thoughtful technical touches that really elevate it to something special. The use of lightning to punctuate the 'Scared of the Dark' dance routine is a fine example of this impactful creativity. The production values are exceptional throughout: This is a technically impressive show that just so happens to be a tour production.

A huge asset to this new musical is its UK tour cast: Jacqui Dubois is hilarious as Vel, and Blake Patrick Anderson's Robbie is loveable and charismatic. Finty Williams' store boss Patricia falls just the right side of caricature - and Chris Graham's Gareth and Edward Baker Duly's Max are delightfully awful. All of them have impeccable comic timing and a strong stage presence; this is a brilliant lead ensemble.

Standout however is the phenomenal Rebecca Lock as protagonist Caz. She's rarely off stage and shines at every moment. Lock's stunning voice is powerful, her performance sincere and engaging; she effortlessly brings Steps' songs to life. The perfect, sensational lead for this show, this role is bound to earn Rebecca Lock a legion of new fans. Outstanding.

Full of catchy tunes, superb performances and playful humour, Here & Now hits all the right notes for a vibrant, new jukebox musical. It's a little bit silly but a whole load of fun. It really works if you embrace the bizarre. ★★★★☆

Here & Now the Steps musical plays at Glasgow King's Theatre from Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 September 2025 before continuing on UK tour, including dates in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Also playing in Glasgow this week Scottish Ballet's brand new production Mary Queen of Scots

Here & Now, the Steps musical - UK tour & Scottish dates & venues

Rebecca Lock as Caz & Rosie Singha as Neeta in HERE & NOW. Photo: Pamela Raith

King's Theatre, Glasgow

Tue 16 - Sat 20 September

Tue - Sat: 7:30pm

Tue, Thu & Sat: 2:30pm

atgtickets.com/Glasgow

Tue 21 - Sat 26 October

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen

aberdeenperformingarts.com

Tue 24 February - Sat 1 March 2026

Edinburgh Playhouse

atgtickets.com/Edinburgh

Here & Now - all UK Tour venues via ATG tickets:

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/here-and-now-the-steps-musical/

Learn more about our affiliate policy and partnerships here

Here and Now the Steps Musical - UK & Ireland Tour Cast

Rebecca Lock* Caz

Jacqui Dubois Vel

Blake Patrick Anderson Robbie

Rosie Singha Neeta

Finty Williams* Patricia

River Medway Jem

Ben Darcy Ben

Lauren Woolf Tracey

Chris Grahamson Gareth

Edward Baker-Duly Max

John Stacey Lesley

The cast is completed by Georgia Christofi, Kade Ferraiolo, Albert Green, Harry Jack, Casey Jay, Charlie-Jay Johnson, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Dean Rickards, Markus Södergren, Genevieve Taylor and Jessica Vaux.

*Rebecca Lock and Finty Williams are only scheduled to be in the production until November 2025.

Blake Patrick Anderson as Robbie & River Medway as Jem in HERE & NOW. Photo: Pamela Raith