Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story – Review – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
By Steve Crabtree, February 2026
Sometimes a jukebox musical is just a nice easy watch. It’s that feel-good factor where you’re guaranteed the big hits alongside a bit of a biographical story to keep things moving. Best of both worlds, really.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about Buddy Holly before tonight. I knew a few songs, I knew he tragically died too young, and I knew he’d made his mark on the music industry. But, with this musical being around since 1989 and still going strong, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story was one I definitely wanted to see.
“Song after song”
We got into the Alhambra pretty early on opening night, and noticed the crowd mostly consisted of fans whose first records could well have been original Buddy Holly albums. It was a really nice atmosphere; an older crowd clearly ready for a trip down memory lane, joined by some younger rock and roll fans.
As we took our seats his signature shone, sprawled across the curtain, welcoming us. We settled in for what turned out to be a lovely night, surrounded by people who clearly loved this era of music.
Things begin in Lubbock, Texas, with Buddy Holly and the Crickets. The story follows Buddy’s early career and his desire to break away from his country roots to play rock and roll. We saw those early struggles at Decca Records, where they flat-out refused to let him record the music he wanted.
Eventually, things finally click with producer Norman Petty. And, from that point on, it was all systems go. Day and night, song after song, the hits we know started coming.
“Mannerisms, looks and gawkiness”
I was quite surprised to find out I knew more Buddy Holly tunes than I thought. And, we were given plenty. ‘Everyday’ was brilliant, and the entire theatre enjoyed ‘Peggy Sue’. ‘Heartbeat’ got us all joining in with the claps. The set list offered a great mix of his back catalogue (and a few rock n’ roll surprises along the way), and it quickly became one of those know more than you think kind of nights.
The first half ends on a high with Buddy’s breakthrough at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, where the audience instantly fell for the band. In terms of scenery, the production used a pretty basic but effective set-up. It’s a 50s-style studio and radio stations scene for the most part, keeping much of the focus firmly on the music.
Cast wise, what a delight. AJ Jenks was fantastic in the lead role of Buddy. He was perhaps slightly less geeky than the real man, but he took on all the mannerisms, looks, and gawkiness that you expect. His voice sounded great, those ‘hiccups’ were perfect, and his guitar skills were spectacular.
Joshua Barton gave a standout performance as The Big Bopper. Meanwhile, Miguel Angel’s Ritchie Valens could have stolen the show in any other production. Marta Elena brought a lovely presence to the role of Buddy’s wife, Maria Elena, and Laura Dene Perryman deserves a special mention for her incredible vocals across several roles.
It made a huge difference that the whole cast played their own instruments live. This gave the performance a really authentic feel that you don’t always get with touring shows.
“The day the music died”
As we went through the second half of the show, we got a slightly simpler affair. We got a whistle-stop tour of Buddy’s marriage, the breakup of the Crickets, and that slowed down into the final, fatal Winter Dance Party tour in Iowa. Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story doesn’t dwell on the tragedy of the crash; instead, the production offered a solemn moment where we just looked at his acoustic guitar as a radio announcer told us the news.
This moment marked the day the music died and provided a poignant pause in an otherwise high-paced show. It’s handled with real class and respect, before the energy comes ramping back in for a fantastic finale.
With a solid 15 minutes of rock and roll from the entire cast, the lights up and the music blaring, the Alhambra was alive. ‘Johnny B. Goode’ sent us all home with an unmistakable rock and roll shuffle in our step.
I’d perhaps have liked a bit more storyline. But, Buddy Holly was taken so young, and his career and story were so short. Nonetheless, you should go and see this one. It’s a lively, lovable show that delivers exactly what it promises – a bit of history and a lot of heart.
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story continues its run at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, until 28th February.
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
