Hadestown: Teen Edition - The Bonington
Thursday 5th February 2026
"Hadestown: Teen Edition"
The Bonington, Arnold
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 Stars)
From the moment you walk into the auditorium, you are instantly drawn into the dark and atmospheric world of Hadestown. The stage is set with an industrial, underground feel, with scattered furniture, wooden structures and moody lighting that immediately creates a sense of mystery and anticipation. The dim blue and amber tones across the stage give the space a haunting yet captivating presence, making it feel as though you have stepped straight into the underworld before the show has even begun. It sets the tone perfectly and builds excitement for what is to come creating a powerful first impression that pulls the audience into the story right away.
From the very first moment to the final bow, this production of Hadestown: Teen Edition was truly outstanding. It was a powerful and emotional journey that completely drew me into its world. Throughout the performance I found myself feeling quite emotional, with several moments that genuinely gave me goosebumps. Even though this was my first time ever seeing or hearing Hadestown, it left such a strong impression on me and is definitely a musical I would love to see again in the future. The storytelling, music and atmosphere combined beautifully to create a production that stayed with me long after the curtain fell.
The story follows Orpheus and Eurydice, two young people trying to find hope and stability in a difficult world. When Eurydice is drawn into the underground world of Hadestown, Orpheus sets out on a journey to bring her back. Alongside their story, we also see the complicated relationship between Hades and Persephone, which helps shape both the world above and below. It is a story full of love, hope and sacrifice, told through powerful music and storytelling that keeps the audience fully engaged throughout.
The entire cast were incredibly talented. It was clear from the start to the finish just how much they were enjoying themselves on stage. Their passion and commitment shone through in every scene and the strength of the vocals across the whole company was truly impressive. Each performer brought confidence and energy to their role, creating a strong ensemble that worked beautifully together. It was wonderful to see such a dedicated group of performers delivering such powerful vocals while clearly having so much fun performing.
Lottie Parsons as Eurydice delivered a heartfelt and emotional performance, bringing depth and vulnerability to the role. Her vocals were strong and expressive, allowing the audience to connect with her character and journey. Jasmine Hutchings as Orpheus brought warmth and sincerity to the stage, with a gentle yet powerful presence that suited, the character perfectly. Together, they shared lovely chemistry and worked beautifully as a pair, making their story believable and moving.
Sadie Ridley as Hades brought strong presence and authority to the stage, creating a powerful character that commanded attention whenever she appeared. Eden Bell as Persephone provided wonderful contrast, bringing both energy and emotion to the role. Their scenes together were engaging to watch and added depth to the story.
Caitlin Creswick as Hermes guided the story with confidence and clear storytelling, acting as a strong narrator throughout. The Fates Ava Hudson, Millie Petsas-Wood and Toby Woolerton worked brilliantly together, creating a mysterious and atmospheric presence on stage with strong harmonies and confident performances.
The workers ensemble made up of Gemma Barr, Eva Robinson, Lilli-Mae Shaw, Daniel Adamson, Saphia Kaye, Nella Budding, Lily Ferguson, Sophie Flanagan, Evie Evans, Lily Glenton, Isobel Farr, Finlay Joyce, Skyla O’Toole, Lamoyah Ryan, Anna Markowski and Maja Prentice Nielsen they played a huge part in bringing the world of Hadestown to life. They created a strong, unified ensemble and worked incredibly well together, helping to build the atmosphere and energy of the production throughout.
The choreography, created by Meg Hindley, was energetic, powerful and without a doubt one of the best I have seen. Every movement felt purposeful and helped to tell the story, making excellent use of the stage space. Considering the size of the stage, what was achieved was remarkable. The stage itself is quite small, so the space available for the performers is limited. However, what this production achieved within that space was truly incredible. I honestly didn’t think it would be possible to stage a musical like Hadestown on such a small stage, but I was left completely speechless by what they created. The way the cast used the space was clever, creative and extremely effective.
They all worked together brilliantly as a team, especially when moving props on and off the stage. Scene changes were smooth and well organised, with everything done quickly and without disrupting the flow of the performance. This teamwork helped keep the storytelling continuous and engaging, adding to the overall professionalism of the production.
Directed by Harry Hindley, the production was guided by a clear and creative vision. Every scene flowed naturally and it was clear that a great deal of thought had gone into the storytelling and staging. The direction allowed the audience to fully connect with the characters and become invested in the story, creating a production that felt both powerful and polished.
The music throughout the show was outstanding, with strong vocals from the entire cast. Songs such as Road To Hell, All I’ve Ever Known, Wait For Me, Flowers and We Raise Our Cups were delivered beautifully and helped carry the emotional weight of the story. Each musical number added something special and kept the audience fully engaged from beginning to end.
The sound design by Mark Di Martino Marriott was clear and well balanced, ensuring every word and note could be heard.
The lighting design by Peter Hodgkinson was extremely effective, creating atmosphere and enhancing each scene with carefully chosen tones and effects. The use of lighting helped build tension and mood, adding to the overall impact of the production.
There was one moment in the second half that used strobe lighting, which personally felt a little intense on my eyes and made it slightly difficult to see what was happening on stage at that point. However, it was clearly used for dramatic effect and did not take away from the overall quality or impact of the performance.
FX equipment provided by EES Showhire added further depth to the show, while the backdrop from Thoroughly Theatre helped create the striking world of Hadestown.
Costumes from Cotswolds Costumes suited each character perfectly and helped establish the tone and style of the production. Props and set from Cooper Studios were used creatively and effectively, making excellent use of the limited stage space available.
By the end of the show, I felt completely amazed by what I had just watched. It was a truly powerful performance that left a lasting impression, and I also felt quite emotional as the story reached its conclusion. I honestly didn’t want the show to end. I was so invested in the story and completely drawn into the world of Hadestown that I could have happily watched more.
I’ve given this production 5 stars because it delivers on every level. The cast were incredibly talented, the vocals were strong, the choreography was outstanding and the creative team achieved something remarkable within the space they had. Every part of the production worked together to create a powerful emotional and unforgettable theatre experience.
Hadestown: Teen Edition is at The Bonington Theatre, Arnold until Saturday 7th February 2026.
It could very well be a sell-out, so I would highly recommend getting your tickets as soon as possible this is definitely not a production you want to miss.
Written By Owen Brindley
Comments
Post a Comment