Review | Singin' In The Rain | Royal Exchange Theatre | 05 December 2025
- Jonathan Rawlinson
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Prior to the pandemic, the Royal Exchange Theatre was renowned for reinvigorating classic beloved musicals with non-replica productions each Christmas. More recently, they had shifted focus toward lesser-known titles as well as new writing. Whilst there were some fantastic productions, such as 2022’s ‘Betty! A sort of musical’, the itch for a major full-scale musical revival was never quite scratched… until now.
Based on the classic 1952 movie musical of the same name, ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ follows silent film stars Don Lockwood (Louis Gaunt) and Lina Lamont (Laura Baldwin) as they try to remain in the spotlight when the film industry changes suddenly with a new era of ‘talkies.’ Not unlike most golden age musicals, the plot is knowingly light, but it never tries to disguise this and is part of its appeal as pure escapism at its finest.
In a production like this, the choreography can make or break the entire evening. Whether large ensemble numbers or more intimate routines, Alistair Davids choreography triumphs, feeling both timeless and fresh. Due to its intimacy, many shows can feel constrained in the Exchange, but here it feels tailored to the in-the-round setting. The highly anticipated title number is sensational, as Gaunt splashes and twirls with a flare of Gene Kelly whilst simultaneously making the role completely his own.
Gaunt leads the show with an irresistible charisma, with incredible on-stage chemistry opposite both Carly Mercedes Dyer as Kathy Selden and Laura Baldwin as Lina Lamont. Dyer gives a fantastic, nuanced performance as Kathy gradually softens under the charms of Don Lockwood. Her performance of ‘Would You’ is genuinely spinetingling and serves as a reminder of why she is one of the most exciting talents in the UK theatre scene. Baldwin meanwhile is fantastic as the squeaky voiced Lina, a character it would be so easy to hate for her arrogance and jealousy if it wasn’t for such a hilarious performance.
And yet, even amidst such an impeccable cast, Danny Collins’ Cosmo Brown threatens to steal the whole evening. His ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ does exactly what it says, delivering a comedy through song masterclass that earnt its thunderous applause as a clear stand out moment of the performance.
Raz Shaws direction is superb, with no one side ever feeling favoured over another. This musical doesn’t naturally lend itself to being performed in the round, but Shaw makes it almost impossible to imagine it being staged in any other way. Anchored by a sensational eight-piece band and outstanding cast of sixteen, this production is hands down the best the Royal Exchange has been in years.
Note: My ticket was gifted in exchange for a review. This review is based on my honest opinion alone and is without influence.
