The Lightning Thief

WLOG Rising Stars never shy away from taking on challenging and different titles. Adapted from the children’s fantasy fiction title of the same name written by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief, the musical includes an electrifying rock score, as the tale of Percy Jackson, demigod son of Poseidon, comes alive on the stage.

To deliver the said rock score, we had a fantastic 5-piece band led by Robert Lockwood, who delivered this with a driving force and sound that never overwhelmed the performers on the stage, with a further nod to microphones and sound from Casey Divall, Oliver Garwood, and Lewis Thornton to getting this balanced so well on opening night. Lighting for a show involving the supernatural also requires clever plotting, and the team of John Gallagher, Emily Bonnett and Theresa Gallagher did an excellent job.

With a fast‑moving storyline and numerous visual effects, the set was kept simple: two sets of steps placed parallel to each other at the rear centre of the stage created an additional level for the cast. A hallmark of all WLOG Rising Stars productions is their highly creative use of choreographed cast movements and props to form special effects and illusions. This approach is also a wonderful way of teaching young performers the stagecraft and teamwork essential for life on stage.

This production was no exception. Black umbrellas were cleverly used to create the impression of power and a storm swirling around Fury, Mrs. Dodds (Lucy Rayner), before she is slain by Percy (Molly Rix). Another standout moment featured a smart piece of illusion in which Aunty Em the Medusa (Grace Garwood) appears to be beheaded.

I was extremely impressed with the quality of the vocals throughout the cast, as well as the American accents.

Leading the way as Percy Jackson, Molly Rix was fantastic, on stage for most of the production, her performance drove the production forward at pace. This is not an easy score to navigate, and, with Percy involved in most of the numbers, Molly displayed a maturity and flexibility in her vocal range.

As Percy’s Mother Sally, Emily Ruddock was a very warm and convincing characterisation, her song “Strong” with Percy was beautifully delivered.

Tess Bonnett, as Grover, and Jess Van Kroonenburg, as Annabeth, completed the formidable trio with Percy. the songs “Lost,” and “Drive” between the three were outstanding.

Finally, the large supporting company delivered all the clever and imaginative pieces of physical theatre that Director Joanne Forster had woven into the show with lightning pace. I particularly enjoyed the song “Drive,” in which Grover, Annabeth, and Percy use various modes of transport while the company transform into a range of characters—including a bus driver, passengers, and even a tractor driver with an assortment of farm animals in the back!

The choreography by Kate Garwood was also excellent. Every performer, including the youngest cast members, remained fully engaged throughout, seamlessly shifting from high‑energy movement to freeze‑frame poses as different subplots were narrated by other members of the cast.

My congratulations to Joanne Forster and everyone involved with Rising Stars in this production-it was a pleasure to see this wonderful group in action again.

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