By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 13 June, opens 25 June and runs through 12 September 2026 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

The audience rises as 1 at the curtain to give this musical re-imagining of the beloved 2014 film about lesbian and gay support for the miners during their 80s industrial action the adulation it deserves.

• Read on for reasons including how this is giving Redcliffe a run for its money as the best new musical of the year so far

We’d hoped the titles of the songs would be in the show programme but they’re not so we’re going to have to guess at them but they’re the strongest thing about this new musical giving Redcliffe a run for its money as the best of the year so far.

It’s not until three-quarters of the way through the 1st act when Samuel Barnett’s (Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is About To Happen, Bush Theatre) Jonathan, the 2nd person diagnosed with HIV in the UK, takes to the dancefloor with the women at the Onllwyn miners’ social club during a riotous I Miss Disco that this show takes flight and never lets its foot off the accelerator.

Sarah Pugh’s Sian, finding real purpose in making a difference on the ground in Wales during the industrial action, even achieves her own very understated moment to shine in the moving My Little Infidelity.

But the biggest showstopper is saved for the opening of the second act when Jonathan just can’t help himself during I’m Going To Live when the opportunity to tell the story of his life accompanied by a baby grand piano, feathers, tassles and gold hotpants presents itself. And, frankly, why wouldn’t anyone?

Pride is our favourite film and musical theatre our favourite art form and so we approached this project with equal mixtures of off-the-scale excitement and trepidation because the only way that this works is if the songs on 1st listen are memorable and propel the story which is largely intact from the celluloid version with even some of the more quotable lines.

And Pride the musical exceeds even our wildest dreams because it understands that the musical form can unlock moments of abandon and heartache that the film version could only ever dream of and it’s a wild ride to be here at this preview with an audience willing this to be a success and revelling in the utter joy it’s inspiring.

The lesbians and gays invite their Welsh friends on the town with them in Soho after a Pits and Perverts fundraiser starring Bronski Beat during a rampaging We’re On A Mission Ladies (sample lyric: ‘Nothing can stop us after a sniff of poppers’) and the audience is having as much fun as they are.

Pride works as a story because it’s so unbelievable yet grounded in reality and heartwarming to think 2 very different communities could embrace the kindness and open heartedness they have in common while setting aside the things that divide them and it’s a tale arguably more relevant to life in 2026 than it was in the 80s.

It’s also hugely funny and at its close we find our faces are wet with tears we hadn’t even realised we were crying because we were so caught up in the rollercoaster nature of the story and a fitting tribute to the inspirational Mark Ashton who was the bulldozer behind it.

Pride the musical is such a wild ride and has already sold out its entire run but you can try for £10 Friday Rush tickets each week at 1pm here or by signing up here to be kept informed about any future opportunities to go.

It will doubtless transfer to a bigger West End venue soon but don’t miss your chance to see 1 of the best new musicals of the year so far in a brilliantly atmospheric and intimate London space.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy National Theatre Tickets
• Have you seen a Matthew Warchus show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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