I went along to Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre with my husband and our two young sons, Odhran, 9, and Reuben, 6, to celebrate Andrew Lloyd Webber's award-winning Starlight Express, as it marks its first year back in London.
On arrival, Odhran stepped inside the auditorium and said 'wow!' This is a theatre space unlike the traditional set up, as race tracks extend into the audience and lap around the seats. The high-tech set becomes even more impressive during the performance, as moving parts open, close, rise up and lower.
This is a revival of the musical, which premiered in London in 1984. The original chugged its way out of the Apollo Victoria in January 2002 after becoming one of the longest-running West End shows.
But the production opened with huge success around the world, and in June 2024, a regenerated Starlight Express returned home to London. The critically acclaimed show has been extended for the fifth time since opening at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, and is now booking until March 2026. This year, it won seven awards at the WhatsOnStage Awards, including the prestigious Best Musical Revival, and it was nominated for three Olivier Awards - scooping the prize for Best Costume Design.
I got chatting to an older lady who'd come to see the show with her grown daughter. She'd taken her daughter to see Starlight Express back at the Apollo Victoria when she was around Reuben's age. So for them, it was a nostalgic return visit, though of course the set has greatly evolved since the 80s.
But even for us, visiting with young kids, the premise of Starlight Express felt nostalgic, as Odhran when he was a toddler was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine and always had a vivid imagination when playing with his toy trains. So, it was easy to relate to the young boy who acts as Control in the show.
In the story, the child goes to sleep, and in his dreams his beloved trains come to life. Rusty, a downtrodden steam train dreams of wining the world championship and impressing Pearl, a first-class observation car. But he must compete against more modern engines, such as a diesel and an electric train, who are all mocking of the fact that Rusty is an old-fashioned engine. The child, as Control, oversees the competition.
Rusty seeks strength and inspiration through the legendary Starlight Express. On reading up on the show I believe the Starlight Express is supposed to a mythical train that Rusty believes can help him win.
But Odhran had a lovely interpretation of this. He pointed out that there was only a Momma train, and wondered if Starlight Express might be Rusty's deceased dad.
We had great seats right in front of the first loop of track that extends from the main stage, and we could feel the gust of wind as the cast whizzed past at high speed. There were cries of 'woah!' from the boys as one of the cast lifted a leg into the air while zooming past. It was an immersive experience , with audience participation encouraged at certain points.
It was hard to believe this cast weren't life-long skaters, but actors and singers who'd prepared for the show through a 12-week skate boot camp.
Hydra was the boys' favourite character, and since seeing the show, they've been going round singing, 'It's not a matter if, it's a matter when, for hydrogen...' They loved his combination of arrogance and vulnerability.
Vocal performances from Jeevan Braich as Rusty and Jade Marvin as Momma deserve a standout mention. Braich has a tenderness to his vocals that give emotional resonance, and Marvin has a rich voice filled with depth and soul.
The lyrics to songs such as 'Whistle at Me' and 'I Do' are a little cheesy, but perfectly pitched at a young audience.
'Totally cringe,' Odhran said, while absolutely loving these romantic moments between Rusty and Pearl!
The boys were impressed by the scooter trick riders who came on at different points in the show, and they both smiled through the entire performance.
There's nothing more satisfying than watching a live show where every single member of the cast is giving it their all.
And Starlight Express is a visual feast. It's not just the amazing set, but also the futuristic costumes and incredible hairstyles that have been carefully designed to give each character an individual look to capture the spirit of each train.
Since seeing the show, the boys have been pouring over the snazzy souvenir programme, which is filled with interesting details. One fun fact is that Mel B trained in Starlight's Skate School in the 90s but, although successful, decided to take another job (presumably The Spice Girls).
But a real test of how much of an impression a show has made on Odhran and Reuben is whether or not they request the soundtrack while traveling in the car, and we've been listening to the soundtrack to Starlight Express a lot! In the boys' love of nonsense, the lead song Starlight Express has been re-interpreted as a tribute to Pizza Express, with Odhran and Reuben singing about dough balls and tasty bites.
Reuben has also been skidding along the wooden floor of our hallway in his socks, mimicking a skating action. So, we've ordered a pair of skates for his upcoming birthday.
Starlight Express certainly made an impression! If you're looking for a great show for kids , get this booked. It's fun and high-energy, and you're sure to leave with a smile on your face.
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is easily accessible from central London and is a five minute walk from Wembley Park Tube (Jubilee and Metropolitan lines). We were travelling from South London on a school night and wanted the boys to sleep in the car on the way home. So, we drove and used a parking app to rent a space on a local resident's driveway, which cost us £5.
Starlight Express is now booking until March 2026. Book your tickets here