A magical, mythological musical… perfect for a family night out!
High-energy, mythological, and heroic!
Last night (03/09) at Milton Keynes Theatre we were treated to a spectacular mythological adventure of a show, as The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical has arrived in town. This action-packed family-friendly musical is based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling novel, which was also later adapted into a blockbuster film in 2010.
The Lightning Thief follows the story of Percy Jackson (portrayed brilliantly by Vasco Emauz). Percy is a young boy with ADHD and dyslexia, who discovers his father is none other than the Greek god Poseidon. It’s great to see representation of children with neurodivergence, especially through a character like Percy – providing comfort, familiarity and empowerment to those who relate.
Percy finds himself at a summer camp called Camp Half-Blood, designed for demigods. There, with friends Annabeth (daughter of Athena, played by Kayna Montecillo) and Grover (a half-goat a.k.a satyr, played by Cahir O’Neill), he sets off on an epic and heroic quest to prevent a war between the gods by recovering Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt.
Right from the start, the musical delivers non-stop energy, brought to life through catchy songs, vibrant choreography, and enthusiastic performances. I felt truly engaged by every character, with many offering laughs throughout. The show’s dynamic rock score by Rob Rokicki matches the pace of the show and perfectly reflects the plot as it evolves.
There was a strong theme of friendship, especially between Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover as they set off on their quest. Montecillo brought a sharp and confident edge to Annabeth, perfectly capturing her intelligence and strength. While O’Neill brought a gentle humour and warmth to Grover, making him an instantly lovable sidekick. Both actors delivered standout performances.
A special mention also has to go to Aidan Cutler who played Mr D, every line of his landed with brilliant timing, and his portrayal of the grumpy, wine-loving god was laugh-out-loud funny.
The ensemble was simply fantastic, effortlessly playing a multitude of characters throughout the show. Their energy and enthusiasm were unmissable, truly keeping the show alive from start to finish.
I have to note how impressed I was by the vocal performances of both Vasco Emauz (Percy) and Simone Robinson (Sally Jackson and others). Emauz has a wonderful tone to his voice, perfectly reflecting the emotion and energy throughout the show. While Robinson’s voice absolutely whisked me away the moment she began to sing. Her voice was tender, powerful, and completely captivating.
Beyond the performances, the visual storytelling is full of clever surprises. A smart use of lighting and a creative use of staging depicts the different scenes, including a few charming DIY style additions. One of my favourite uses of creativity was when they create the large face of one particular creature, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
Additionally, although dressed in typical teen outfits, Percy and Grover each had nods to their identity on their t-shirts – Percy had a lightning bolt on his and Grover had “Grrrrr” written on his, which I thought was great attention to detail.
Throughout the show I could sense the audience was engaged and the moments of humour went down very well. A rapturous roaring crowd could be heard each time poignant numbers were sung during the show.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly musical in the Milton Keynes area this week, perhaps to mark the return to school, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is well worth a visit. With an age guidance of 8+, it’s a high-energy show the whole family can enjoy, and a brilliant way to spark curiosity about Greek mythology.
The Lightning Thief UK Tour is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 7th September 2025. Tickets are available from £15.00 (+ £3.95 transaction fee), General bookings: 0844 871 7615, Access bookings:0333 009 5399, Group bookings:0207 206 1174 or online.
Reviewed by:
I’m a content writer and reviewer for Visit Milton Keynes.
