Mean Girls – Review – Hull New Theatre
By Rachel Howard, May 2026
If you’re of a certain age, or have teenage daughters, there’s a pretty good chance that you will at least have heard of Mean Girls. In fact, you’ll probably have watched the film (2004 original and 2024 musical remake) a number of times. So it’s not hard to see why the stage musical version is becoming such a hit.
Premiering in Washington DC in 2017, the stage show is based on the 2004 film, written by Tina Fey and has since played on Broadway, the West End and toured extensively around the US and the UK.
The story follows teenager Cady Heron, whose early years were spent being homeschooled by her slightly hippy-ish mother in Kenya. Having made the move back to the US, Cady transfers to North Shore High School in Illinois. Feeling a little out of place and isolated, she soon makes friends with Janis and Damian, who do their best to outline exactly who everyone at school is, and, most importantly, who is best avoided.
One of these red-flag cliques are The Plastics – a trio of girls headed up by “Queen Bee” Regina George. Regina, Karen and Gretchen are the popular girls, but also the Mean Girls, spending most of their days criticising the rest of the school and looking down upon anyone who doesn’t meet their very exacting standards.
Although The Plastics are definitely on Janis and Damian’s “best avoided” list, they encourage Cady to infiltrate the trio in an effort to take down Regina George. However, as with all good storylines, nothing goes to plan and what results is a lesson in trust, betrayal and ultimately the importance of being yourself.
“Commanding”
The cast that hit the stage tonight are nothing short of spectacular, and completely do justice to the film and the original characters – in some cases – dare I say – bettering them.
Cady is played by Emily Lane who absolutely nails the wholesome, impressionable teenager. Strong vocals accompanied by a delicate vulnerability enchant the audience and leave us hoping for a happy ending.
Confidently gliding around the stage with insane levels of sass is Vivian Panka as Regina George. To play such an iconic character must the role of a lifetime and she’s certainly running with it. A powerhouse voice and commanding stage presence bring the leader of The Plastics to life and I think, at times, we all fall under her spell.
Rounding up The Plastics are Sophie Pourret as Karen and Kiara Dario as Gretchen. Both are fabulously effective in their roles, with Dario’s approval-seeking Gretchen frantically covering the stage in all manner of chaos. Pourret’s Karen provides many of the comedy moments with her dumb-but-adorable persona, winning the audience over and leaving us in stitches throughout.
Max Gill and Sadie Levett are the dynamic duo of Damian and Janis. Again, the comedy timing is there, particularly from Max Gill. Sadie Levett (in an understudy role tonight) really smashes the complex character of Janis. One moment she’s strong willed and ballsy, the next she’s vulnerable and emotional. Considering this isn’t her main character, Levett does a fantastic job.
“Real emotion”
Special mention must be given to Faye Tozer of pop group Steps, who takes to the stage in not one, not two, but three different roles – Cady’s mum Ms Heron, teacher Ms Norbury and Regina’s mum Mrs George. In what must be some seriously frantic backstage changes, not to mention mentally getting into the characters of three very different women, not a hair is out of place and not a foot is out of time – the mark of a true professional. There is even a little Steps tribute moment at the end for those in the know!
Head of Wardrobe, Jess Siddall, and Head of Wigs, Hair and Make Up, Jen Hadley, must be in their element with this production. The Plastics are perfectly decked out in Chanel-esque mini skirts and kitten heels and Cady seamlessly transitions from plain Jane through to a glamorous Plastic-wannabe via little black dresses and knee high boots. Even Regina’s mum is kitted out in something akin to a Juicy Couture tracksuit – standard uniform for wealthy women in the early 2000s.
Musical Director Tom Slade provides us with a show that is jam-packed with musical highs. Upbeat songs dominate, including ‘Apex Predator’ and ‘Meet the Plastics’, but they are balanced with some real emotion from Janis in ‘I’d Rather Be Me’. The cast all hit the high notes and are accompanied by an orchestra that fills the theatre with some epic crescendos.
By the time the curtain closes, I’d like to think that we’ve all learnt a thing or two from this fun-filled, chaotic, frenzied, full-of-heart musical. You don’t have to be popular and – in the words of The Plastics – “fetch”, to win at life, you just need to be your true authentic self. And for the many younger members of tonight’s audience, that’s a lesson that will hopefully stay with them for long to come.
Mean Girls is at Hull New Theatre until 30th May
After studying English at university and having a lifelong love of writing, Rachel, a full-time editor, came to On Yorkshire in 2017 where she started off reviewing theatre productions in and around the East Yorkshire area. That love of theatre soon expanded into hotels, restaurants and travel, not to mention becoming one of On Yorkshire’s resident beauty editors, reviewing the latest products, spas and treatments. Rachel loves to sample the very best Yorkshire and the UK have to offer in order to bring you the low down on the high life!
