The Wedding Singer

Are you a fan of the 80’s? Do you love everything neon and full of cheese? Are you a sucker for a happy ending? The Wedding Singer brings all of this, and more! Based on the film of the same name, The Wedding Singer is a bright, upbeat, heartfelt comedy sure to leave audiences with a huge smile on their faces and Show Ready Productions really did it justice.

Show Ready Productions are a brand-new company, founded by Caroline Coles, Benjamin Stubbs and Adam Whitehead. The trio have an obvious passion for theatre, and each bring along a wealth of knowledge and talent. Their production of The Wedding Singer was brilliant, made even more impressive given it was their debut! There was clear direction throughout the show, with all characters having their own personality and purpose. At times, the staging was a little crowded due to the large cast in comparison to the stage size, and this led to several moments where cast members were blocking each other. The set was relatively simple; however, this worked well for the show and the size of the cast. Dressing the wings were hung tabs, perfectly matched to the backdrop which also encompassed a set of stairs to provide a different level. The use of the balcony area was great and added different dimensions to the production. The rest of the set was made up of smaller items which could easily be brought on and off to represent the locations within the show. I was very impressed by the slickness of each scene change, there were no moments of waiting in silence for the next scene to begin, and they were mostly underscored to keep the audience immersed. A great job by the cast and crew!

Perfectly complimenting the neon set was a well-designed lighting plot. The use of different shaped lights onto the stage floor was a great idea given that the stage has quite a steep rake. This would otherwise be lost to any audience members sat on floor level. I did find there were a couple of moments where members of the principal cast were not well lit, however this was quickly rectified by either a shift in the lighting or the cast moving themselves into the light. A particular highlight for me in terms of lighting was All About the Green. The vibrant green worked well against the black and white costumes used in the number. Costumes were another great strength of this production, with no detail forgotten. The contrast between the extravagant costumes worn by Holly and Linda, and the simple “girl-next-door” look donned by Julia was a really nice touch. On the whole, all costumes were very fitting for the era and helped to add to the characters. The use of different colour schemes amongst the guests at the various events throughout the show was brilliant.

Taking on the role of Musical Director for this production was Adam Whitehead. The harmonies were flawless and it is obvious that a lot of hard work has gone into this between Adam and the cast. The balancing between the music and the cast was great, never leaving us struggling to hear the cast. Another integral role within a production team is the choreographer, and 17-year-old Lilah Coles has absolutely smashed this! Intricate choreography was very well executed by the whole cast, and each move was completely in keeping with the 80’s theme. Having to choreograph for such a large cast must not be easy, however Lilah did an amazing job! Creating different shapes in large ensemble numbers, all with seamless transitions, and giving all of the cast their time to shine - this was a pleasure to watch. Well done Lilah!

Heading up the cast was Kieran Picken in the role of Robbie – The Wedding Singer. This is a big role to take on, and Kieran did it with ease. He gave outstanding vocals from start to finish, with a truly effortless feel. Made even better by playing the guitar live to accompany some of the numbers. Kieran played the role with a perfect amount of nervous charm, humour and sadness, keeping the audience rooting for him throughout.

Eleanor Morris was a lovely Julia, bringing a softness and naivety to the role. She gave a beautiful rendition of Someday with a great level of energy. A standout number for me was If I Told You, Kieran and Eleanor’s vocals blended together seamlessly, and it was a true pleasure to watch.

The rest of the wedding band was made up by Dom Burdin as Sammy and Archer Armstrong as George. Both gave great performances with many well-timed moments of comedy, bouncing off each other and playing a fabulous trio with Kieran.

Julia’s cousin and best friend, Holly, was played by Tandie Stahl-Stockton. She brought all the style and sass that the role demands, while still showing a softer side in her friendship with Julia and as the relationship with Sammy develops. The Act 1 finale, Saturday Night in the City, was Tandie’s time to shine. And boy did she shine. The vocals in the number were amazing!

One of the standout performances of the show was Danni Smith as Rosie. This was a brilliant casting choice and Danni was very funny, leaving the audience in stitches on many occasions. Her moves were hilarious and well executed for a younger performer playing an old character.

Also making up the principal cast were Owen Whitehead as Glen, Laura Morris as Linda, and Donna Bainbridge as Angie. Owen played a good Glen, really portraying his greed with his movements and mannerisms. The vocals from Owen in All About the Green were strong and the diction was very clear for such a wordy song. Laura threw herself into the role of Linda, with the acting being very over the top but was a great fit for the part. The movement and acting both giving a “couldn’t care less” attitude was very good and were the strongest elements of the performance. Donna gave us a lovely performance as Angie, Julia’s mum, showing a really soft and supporting relationship throughout the show.

The thing that really made this show shine was the ensemble. Their energy didn’t drop for a moment despite various large dance numbers, and they really gave their all. The harmonies were stunning throughout, and all choreography was very well executed by the whole cast.

Overall, this was a brilliant production that brought so much energy and fun. For a debut show, this was a massive success and the whole cast and production team should be proud of what they have created. A huge thanks to Show Ready Productions for their invite to the show and for their hospitality – it was lovely to have a chat during the interval to hear about this new group! I wish them the best of luck with their next show, Nativity The Musical, to be performed at Crewe Lyceum in November 2026.

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