REVIEW: ROCK & ROLL MAN @ THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR

🎭 Rock & Roll Man

📍 Theatre Royal Windsor, 32 Thames Street, Windsor, SL4 1PS

🗓 Wednesday 11th March 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

A HIGH-VOLTAGE HISTORY LESSON!

I am buzzing! Last night was one of those nights at the theatre that just reminds you exactly why you fell in love with this world in the first place. ROCK & ROLL MAN at the Theatre Royal Windsor is exactly that. It's loud, it's proud, and it's a total riot from start to finish. I absolutely loved it, and I want to go and see it again. It's one of those shows that I could easily become obsessed with!

We all know the phrase "Rock & Roll", but how many of us actually know the man who put it on the map? I had heard of him before because I adore this era of music but this show is a deep dive into the life of Alan Freed - the legendary DJ who broke down racial barriers and changed the airwaves forever.

What really surprised me was how strong the narrative is. It's a genuinely interesting book with a meaty story that doesn't just skim the surface. It's a fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking, look at a visionary's rise and his ultimate clash with the establishment.

Leading the charge is Constantine Maroulis, and let me tell you, he is absolutely sensational as Freed. He brings that gritty, rock-star energy he is known for, but adds a layer of vulnerability that really anchors the show.

The talent on the stage is actually a bit ridiculous. Cherice Richards is a powerhouse as LaVern Baker - with a voice that is like velvet and steel all at once. Joey James captures the swagger and that iconic guitar-strut of Chuck Berry perfectly, while displaying soulful vocals. I must also give a special shout-out to Dominique Scott who is a total chameleon. He plays a plethora of characters, but his performance as Jerry Lee Lewis was electrifying. He practically sets the piano, and the theatre, on fire.

The standout for me though - the performance I'll be talking about for weeks - was Jairus McClanahan as Little Richard. My goodness, the vocals on that man! He was incredible, capturing that "Architect of Rock & Roll" energy so authentically it felt like we were transported back to the 1950s. What a performance.

So, with all these positives, why only four stars instead of the full five? Well, in my opinion, there are some technical issues that need ironing out if this show wants to reach its full potential. Regular readers of mine will know how much I love the technical elements of a production and here ere the lighting design was, frankly, a bit boring. We saw a lot of plain white wash or basic single-colour flashes (there seemed to be a lot of red!), which felt a bit unimaginative for such vibrant music. I also felt the mirror balls were working overtime - it's a lovely effect, but I felt like I was being used to mask a lack of depth in the rest of the rig.

The set is functional enough, but it doesn't exactly scream "excitement", and the sound levels were a bit hit-and-miss during this particular performance, with the band occasionally drowning out those brilliant vocals. This strangely seemed to be more of an issue on the original songs, which was a real shame.

The choreography is great, but it needs more bodies to really pop. I felt the cast was too small to be honest. With only two female performers on the stage, one of them ended up playing Alan's wife, mother, and daughter - a lot of heavy lifting for one person!

These issues aside, there is no denying how much I loved this show. It has the potential to have a massive future once these production elements are tightened up. It's a soulful, high-octane night out that should be on the West End stage.

ROCK & ROLL MAN continues performances at Theatre Royal Windsor until Saturday 14th March. Click here for tickets.

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.

My ticket for this performance of Rock & Roll Man was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Constantine Maroulis as Alan Freed; Joe Bence as Buddy Holly / Joe / Stage Manager / Bailiff; Marquie Hairston as Jay Hawkins / Frankie Lymon / Quartet; Joey James as Chuck Berry / Quartet / Newsboy; Jairus McClanahan as Little Richard / Quartet; Mark Pearce as J. Edgar Hoover / Mr Lawrence / Mr Murphy / Southern Preacher / Cop; Cherece Richards as LaVern Baker; Dominique Scott as Jerry Lee Lewis / Pat Boone / Dick Clark / Bob / DA Hogan; Shelby Speed as Jackie / Alan's Mother / Cathy Lawrence / Alana / Bob's Daughter; Anton Stephens as Bo Diddley / Judge / Nate / Quartet; Gary Turner as Leo Mintz / Morris Levy

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 15 minutes, including interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Occasional bad language; Racial discrimination; Loud music; Smoke and haze

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