If you are missing Percy Jackson terribly during the hiatus between the first and second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I’ve got good news for you: you can revisit the story by experiencing it on stage. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical has just opened at The Other Palace in London, and it’s a show that all Percy fans deserve to see at least once.
Written by Joe Tracz and Rob Rokicki and based on the first novel in the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan, the musical originally opened off-Broadway in 2017, then toured the United States and had a Broadway run in 2019 and 2020. Now, fans can finally see the show live again; with a few slight differences from the US show. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will run at The Other Palace until March 2, 2025.
The London cast is impeccable. It includes Max Harwood as Percy Jackson, Scott Folan as Grover Underwood, Jessica Lee as Annabeth Chase, Paisley Billings as Sally Jackson, Greg Barnett as Mr Brunner, Joe Allen as Mr D, Samantha Mbolekwa as Clarisse LaRue, Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Luke Castellan, Philip Catchpole, Morgan Gregory, Charlotte O’Rourke, and Alex Waxman as Ensemble.
I was lucky enough to have seen the show at The Other Palace in London for press night last week, four years after seeing it for the first time on Broadway. Despite some small differences, the London production of The Lightning Thief is a worthy successor, with the cast stepping into the shoes of the original Broadway company effortlessly. I also found The Other Palace to be the perfect location for this musical, providing a rather immersive experience for the audience thanks to the theater’s configuration. I felt — and was — a lot closer to the actors here than when I saw the show on Broadway.
The show, directed in London by Lizzi Gee, gets one fundamental thing right: this musical is, above all, campy. Forgive me the pun – it’s certainly not because a good portion of it is set in a summer camp, but because it’s self-ironic and doesn’t take itself too seriously. High stakes are mitigated with humor, and this is in line with and in homage to the spirit of the books, where even the most absurd near-death experiences are narrated with a joke.
The beauty of The Lightning Thief is that it achieves perfection not in spite of a low production budget, but because of it. To put it bluntly, the Percy Jackson Musical would not work if it had a Wicked-style production, with flying characters and a million changes in scenery. This is a show about a couple of 12-year-old kids who must save the world with no instructions, and this message is conveyed not only through the narrative, but permeates the entire production and seeps through what’s on stage — and what isn’t. For a show that involves gods and monsters, the costumes and props are almost absurd in their simplicity (and never fail to elicit laughs); when the main cast visibly comes together to assemble a minotaur, or to mimic a particularly packed action scene, or simply to move the stage furniture from one scene to the next, this all adds to this show’s rustic charm.
The Lightning Thief certainly does not lack heart. The sheer love for the source material is clear through every line, piece of choreography, and song. The emotions inspired by this adaptation are no less potent on the stage than they are in the million-dollar Disney+ TV series. The conflicts hit just as hard. The characters’ struggles are just as clear, the story’s central themes are just as evident.
Here on stage, the actors are trusted with telling the story, and they would do so effectively even in a dark room; that is how strong the show’s writing is. But don’t get me wrong: the show does have some special and immersive effects when it most needs them; it just doesn’t go overboard. It’s a real surprise to the audience when they do happen.
The songs range from tear-jerking I-want songs like Percy’s "Good Kid" and Annabeth’s "My Grand Plan," fun exposition numbers like "The Campfire Song" and "Another Terrible Day," and upbeat musical numbers like "Put You In Your Place" and "D.O.A." Every character wants to transcend the role that they’re expected to perform, and all the actors convey that splendidly. I can predict that Max Harwood and Jessica Lee will be many people’s favorite versions of the iconic Percy and Annabeth duo. Paisley Billings’ Sally will quickly become a fan-favorite, and Samantha Mbolekwa will definitely stun the audience as Clarisse.
A special mention goes to Joaquin Pedro Valdes for achieving such an authentic and superlative portrayal of Luke Castellan. His energy consistently stood out throughout the musical, even in ensemble scenes. It’s a shame he didn’t have more stage time, or a solo song. His "Good Kid Reprise" is, for me, the best moment of the musical, one that perfectly encapsulates the conflict that drives the entire series.
This show is suitable for audiences of all ages. Ultimately, underneath the story of these demigods who are trying to survive saving the world, are young kids who wish to be seen, understood, and remembered. The final call to action is one of activism, of appreciating diversity, standing up for what’s right and fighting the real monsters, those who exist in our world.
The London production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical had immense shoes to fill, and they did so perfectly. Both as a critic and as a fan, I would recommend anyone see the show at The Other Palace, if you can. And if you can’t, listen to the official soundtrack, which will almost make you feel as if you did see the show live. This production is an ode to this series, a love letter to the characters, and a real gift to any fans of the Percy Jackson books.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will run at The Other Palace until March 2, 2025. You can book tickets for the show here.
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