Review: Here and Now at The Opera House Manchester

Fri 5 September

Here and Now

A Glitter Bomb of Camp, Chaos and Pure Pop Joy! A review by Ian James.

Ever wondered what you’d get if a panto, a pop gig and a soap opera all got spun together in a sparkly washing machine? Wonder no more!

Here and Now – the new musical stitched around the back catalogue of chart royalty Steps has arrived, darlings.

Outrageously camp, outrageously funny, outrageously outrageous – and all the better for it!

On the surface, this is a frothy, feel-good romp exploding with sequins, sparkle and more key changes than should legally be allowed on a single stage.

Here and Now steps musical MIX56 — Rebecca Lock as Caz absolutely stole the show. Image credit: Pamela Raith.

But dig beneath the diamanté and you’ll find something deliciously more: themes of lies, betrayal, broken promises – and just a hint of existential despair (albeit soothed with haemorrhoid cream and scented loo rolls).

Yet no matter how dark the storyline briefly dips, joy is always only ever a heartbeat away.

The “plot” is gleefully twisty, with turns so swift and unexpected, you’ll be in stitches.

One moment you’re cackling at a glitter-encrusted domestic appliance and the next, you’re swept up in a soaring ballad you’d almost forgotten about.

The clever trick of Here and Now is reminding you of two inescapable truths:

Steps have had far more hits than you remember

Those songs are still, unashamedly just brilliant.

Applause thundered after every number – not polite applause, but raucous, pop-concert applause.

For much of the evening, the atmosphere tipped from “musical theatre” to “full-throttle reunion tour,” which frankly, is exactly what the audience came for.

Here and Now MIX56 — Centre LtoR Blake Patrick Anderson as Robbie & River Medway as Jem in HERE & NOW. Photo credit: Pamela Raith.

The cast? Talented enough to make you forget you weren’t watching the original five themselves – though Rebecca Lock as Caz absolutely stole the show.

By the way, Rebecca joined Smithy on the breakfast show recently. In case you missed it – You can read all about it and listen again here.

Comedy timing that could stop traffic, vocals that soared – and just enough heart to ground the madness.

And oh, the costumes. Sequins. Tabards. Quite simply, fabulous.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any campier, glitzier, or more spectacular…

Steps join the cast of Here and Now at Manchester Opera House MIX56 — For one night only: Steps join the cast of Here and Now at The Opera House

For one night only, the real Steps appeared on stage for the grand finale. Gasps. Cheers!

The audience instantly turned into a standing, stomping choir. It was the perfect cherry on top of an already sparkling glitterball cake.

Walking out, you’ll probably ask yourself, What on earth did I just see?

Then you’ll go home, dig out your double disc Steps Gold CD (or place an order for it), and dance around the kitchen.

Because if Here and Now proves anything, it is this: A little nostalgia, a lot of sequins, perfect pop music – and unabashed joy never really goes out of style.