REVIEW: I'M EVERY WOMAN @ HACKNEY EMPIRE

🎭 I'm Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical

📍 Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 1EJ

🗓 Wednesday 25th March 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

CHAKA-KHAN'T BELIEVE HOW GOOD THIS IS!

It's fair to say that I'm still catching my breath after yesterday's experience. Sometimes you walk into a theatre and you just know you're about to witness magic, but the world premiere of I'M EVERY WOMAN: THE CHAKA KHAN MUSICAL at the Hackney Empire didn't just meet my expectations - it shattered them, swept up the pieces, and turned them into a glitter-drenched disco ball.

From the second the house lights dimmed, I was utterly gripped. Nia T. Hill's script is a tour de force of biographical storytelling. It's punchy, raw, and doesn't shy away from the grit. It's definitely fast-paced, but the quieter, more emotional bits hit me right in my very core. I felt like I was being invited into Chaka's inner sanctum, seeing the woman behind the "Queen of Funk" title laid completely bare.

Racky Plews' direction is sheer perfection, filling the Hackney stage with such vibrancy, while Ebony Clarke's choreography is so tight and energetic I was practically dancing in my seat. I had to consciously try to stop my body moving to avoid annoying the people sitting either side of me!

The technical synergy here is flawless. Sara Perks' functional set, Alex King and Ben Foley's video design, and Zoe Spurr's lighting all dance together in a way that feels incredibly high-end. For someone who enjoys their technical theatre, the execution here was a dream come true.

Now it's time to talk about the cast. Phenomenal. Amazing. Outstanding. Fantastic. I am literally scouring the thesaurus for more synonyms because the word "exceptional" just doesn't come close to describing just how good they were. When the cast list was first announced, I knew I was going to be in for a treat, but seeing them live on stage left my jaw on the floor.

Alexandra Burke as Chaka is, quite simply, a sensation. She doesn't just play the role, she lives it. Leading the company with such fierce confidence, she embodied that legendary spiritual energy and superstar aura so completely that I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her vocals are a literal force of nature - soaring and powerful one moment, then whisper-thin, serene, and devastatingly emotional the next. Are there any awards we can give her right now for this career-defining performance?

And I just have to talk about Miles Anthony Daley. His vocals can only be described as pure velvet. His understated opening to 'Ain't Nobody' was a masterclass in vocal control. It felt like a warm, soulful hug wrapping around the entire auditorium. His characterisation of Richard Holland was sublime, but then, what a transformation! His dual-rolling as Prince was absolutely iconic. He shifted his entire essence. I had to look twice to make sure it wasn't a different actor.

The talent on that stage was just staggering. Chrissie Bhima and Paige Peddie are both absolute firecrackers, bringing such infectious energy and powerhouse vocals to every scene. Sophie Earl as Joni Mitchell was a total revelation. Her rendition of 'I Put a Spell on You' was so hauntingly beautiful that the entire room fell into a hushed, breathless awe. I could feel the collective heart of the audience break during Charlotte St. Croix's performance of 'Beautiful' - it was raw, vulnerable, and utterly soul crushing in the best possible way.

There truly isn't a weak link in this company. This is one of the most formidable casts I have seen on any stage in a long time. I wish I could fill this review with gushing testimonies of each and every one of them.

While the show is heading out on a short tour, a production and cast of this calibre belongs in the West End for a long, long residency. This team have the formula for exactly how to nail a world premiere. It's a five-star, technicolour triumph that I'm already desperate to see again.

Click here to learn more about the show, find tour dates, book tickets, and keep up to date with any upcoming news.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

CAST LIST:

Alexandra Burke as Chaka Khan; Chrissie Bhima as Marie Stevens; Miles Anthony Daley as Richard Holland / Prince; Paige Peddie as Taka Boom; Sophie Earl as Joni Mitchell; Charlotte St. Croix as Milini Khan / Whitney Houston; Chanice Alexander-Burnett as Tammy Michelle / Paulette McWilliams; Maryla Abraham as Sandra Stevens / Doctor Evans / Sister Mary Juan; Duane-Lamonte O'Garro as Hassan Khan / Luther Vandross; Teddy Wills as Fred Hampton / Miles Davis / Grandmaster Melle Mel / Rufus Band Member; Chris Breistein as Steve Winwood / Catholic Priest / Policeman / Rufus Band Member; Samuel Sarpong-Broni as Stevie Wonder / Yoruba Priest / Charles Stevens; Peter Houston as Bob Monaco / Rabbi; Earl Gregory as Judge / Dick Griffey / Shanaynay

Ensemble: Connor Wilkins; Vanessa Dumatey; Kayleigh Stephenson; Gregory Armand; Zinzile Tshuma; Oskarina O'Sullivan; Harry Robinson

Swings: Tarik Frimpong (Resident Choreographer); Londiwe Dhlomo-Dlamini

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 50 minutes, including interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Themes of sexual violence; Physical abuse; Mental health issues; Suicide; Depictions of drug taking; Gun imagry; Gunshots; Loud music; Flashing lights

AGE GUIDELINE:

14 +

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