Review: The Book of Mormon musical Glasgow 2025, UK Tour - Something Incredible
- Lisa in the theatre
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
Trey Parker and Matt Stone's outrageous Broadway hit musical The Book of Mormon is back in Glasgow for a three-week run this May. With an uproarious storyline, joyous performances and a genuinely brilliant musical theatre score, this is one not to be missed.
Review: Glasgow King's Theatre, 14 May 2025
The Book of Mormon UK Tour review | The King's Theatre, Glasgow ★★★★★
Have you heard of the all-American prophet? No, well get yourself down to the Glasgow King's Theatre before 31st May and let the fine young men of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints tell you all about their Mormon book. This book will change your life.
When Elder Price (Adam Bailey) and Elder Cunningham (Sam Glen) are paired together by their church, they must leave their homes in Salt Lake City, Utah to travel on a mission to Uganda, Africa. Their task is to convert the locals; to create new members for the Mormon church. (God loves Mormons and he wants some more.) But the Ugandans are dealing with AIDS, poverty and a tyrannical General who wants to mutilate young ladies. The bible has nothing to say that can help them. But this is not the bible: this is The Book of Mormon!
"Since making its world premiere in March 2011 at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it won nine Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and won over thirty international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and cities across the U.S."
The Book of Mormon is outrageous. This musical pushes the boundaries of comedy further than any other stage work I've seen. But from the creators of South Park and Team America: World Police, I wouldn't expect anything less. This is my fifth time now seeing this show and I still shake my head and wonder "how do they get away with it?" But it's a wicked blend of catchy showtunes, entertaining storylines and scandalous humour that is a recipe for musical theatre magic.
The Book of Mormon cast are perfect
The cast for this 2025 UK Tour production are superb. Adam Bailey and Sam Glen are sensational as leads Elder Price and Elder Cunningham. Having seen them both in these roles before, it's fantastic to see that they have both just got better and better. Bailey's 'I Believe' will always be a favourite of mine, but his skill at portraying the burning ambition and uptightness of super-Mormon Kevin Price are perfect right from the start.
Glen's 'Man Up' is a dream, and his immaculate physical comedy and timing is jaw-dropping from the opening scene to the last. He projects so well, and takes the time to deliver every devastating punchline perfectly so that the audience never miss a thing. A glorious performance.
Tom Bales' skipping, stagey Elder McKinley is delightfully cheery and neurotic - his stage presence is a joy. And Nyah Nish makes for a stunning Nabulungi with her exquisite voice the strongest in the show.
But The Book of Mormon works so well because it's a true ensemble effort. Every member of this large, talented cast contributes to make it the enduring success that it is. The rousing voices of the combined company are breathtaking, and the ensemble dance numbers are all showstoppers.
Casey Nicholaw's hilarious, playful choreography is a highlight of the show. The tone is perfect. Every step and facial expression is precision timed to extract the biggest laughs from the audience. The unapologetically over the top, stagey dance routines never fail to make me beam with joy.
Nicholaw directs as well as choreographs The Book of Mormon and for me these things sit so naturally together that it makes perfect sense. Every scene is choreographed and directed with the utmost care. The considerable cast of Mormons and villagers all move around the stage with pinpoint accuracy to ensure that every last drop of hilarity is squeezed out of each scenario. The Book of Mormon is undoubtedly one of the most polished, gleeful, well directed and choreographed shows you can see in the UK today. It's a comedy yes, but it has the production values of the finest Broadway musical spectaculars.
The Book of Mormon score is one of the best in modern musical theatre
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone collaborated with Robert Lopez on The Book of Mormon. Lopez co-created Broadway musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. That's some musical legacy! He's also the first and only double ‘EGOT’ winner having won all four major entertainment awards at least twice - Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony® Awards. Is it any surprise then that the score for The Book of Mormon is exceptional. There isn't a dud song in the entire show. From the opening number 'Hello' to the delightfully stagey 'Turn it off', to the epic 'Man Up' and 'I Believe', and every song in-between, every last musical number in The Book of Mormon lands in terms of tone and entertainment factor whilst managing to also perfectly progress the story. It's a masterclass in musical theatre scoring.
The Book of Mormon is that rare musical theatre unicorn that has everything you want from a piece of live entertainment. It's bold, scandalous and thoroughly entertaining, and it's presented to perfection here. Run (or skip) to see The Book of Mormon while it's in Glasgow. It truly is Something Incredible ★★★★★
The Book of Mormon is at the King's Theatre, Glasgow until Saturday 31 May 2025 and then continues on tour across the UK.
Tue 13 - Sat 31 May 2025
King’s Theatre, Glasgow
Parental advisory: Explicit Language
Age guidance: 14+ Contains adult themes, strobe lighting and bangs. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Also coming to Aberdeen!
Tue 3 - Sat 20 Sep 2025
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen
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The Book of Mormon Glasgow Ticket Deal
The Book of Mormon touring production is well known for its brilliant day seat offers. The producers have announced that £15 front row seats will be available for every performance in Glasgow this May 2025.
Every Friday you have the opportunity to buy £15 seats for the next week's performances (Monday - Friday)
Each Saturday you can try for same day seats for both the matinee and evening performances.
Head to the King's Theatre website on these days and look for the front row, £15 sets. Good luck!
More deals! LOVEtheatre Week
LOVEtheatre Week returns with fees waived on all theatre, dance, opera and musical productions across the LOVEtheatre website on bookings made from 9 - 18 May 2025 for performance dates from 9 May – 13 July 2025
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