REVIEW: THAT'LL BE THE DAY @ CHURCHILL THEATRE

🎭 That'll Be The Day

📍 Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA

🗓 Sunday 6th September 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

41 YEARS AND STILL ROCKING AROUND THE CLOCK!

Let’s be completely honest for a second. In a world where theatre can sometimes feel a bit too serious, heavy, and, well, pretentious, Trevor Payne and his legendary crew are back on the road to remind us exactly what pure entertainment is supposed to feel like. Believe it or not, THAT'LL BE THE DAY is now in its staggering 41st year of touring. I have personally been a massive fan of this show since the summer of 1994 - yes, I really am that old!

The undeniable secret to its longevity is that it completely morphs every single summer. The brilliant basic format stays anchored - a gorgeous, time-travelling rollercoaster through the golden ages of pop culture from the 1950s to the 1980s - but the actual content is brand spanking new. This weekend, I trotted over to Bromley to catch the latest production on its UK tour, and let me tell you, my face still hurts from smiling so much.

As a long-time fan, I absolutely loved the subtle tweaks to the format this time around. Usually, we are blasted into our seats with a high-energy rock ’n’ roll opening. Instead, this year kicks off with a beautiful nod to the doo-wop era, treating us to a glorious, stripped-back acapella version of "Remember Then". It is an absolute masterstroke that instantly highlights the superstar, harmonies that weave through the entire evening.

But don't worry, the rock is never far away! The second the lights dim and that first electric chord hits you right in the chest, you know you are in the safest hands in showbiz.

The talent on that stage is, frankly, ridiculous. The band is tighter than ever, effortlessly pivoting from sweet vocal blends to absolutely blistering guitar solos and drum fills that make the room erupt. They treat these classic tracks with the utter reverence they deserve, while injecting a fresh, high-octane energy that makes them feel completely alive.

The cast performances from start to finish are nothing short of sensational. Fan-favourite Nikki Wright is an absolute vision. The moment she steps out with "Rockin' Robin", she literally lights up the room. Her transition from that bouncy rock ’n’ roll grit to the pure, heartbreaking elegance of "Anyone Who Had a Heart", right into the disco-fuelled fire of "Hot Stuff", is a masterclass in vocal versatility. When she dropped "Let's Hear It for the Boy", the audience - including yours truly - was unashamedly singing along and dancing in their seats. Pure joy!

Then you have Lotty Anderson, who is a total tour-de-force. She adapts to every single era like a chameleon, bringing massive energy to "Let's Jump the Broomstick", before turning perfectly serene and elegant for "Goodbye to Love". Her vocals on "Stand By Your Man" were genuinely breathtaking, as she held the entire theatre in the absolute palm of her hand.

What I love about this company is that the band members are so much more than just musicians - everyone gets their moment to shine on lead vocals. Mark Street stretches his incredible falsetto chords to the limit for "I Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)", while Jarrod Loughlin lends his wonderfully smooth, romantic tones to "Love Is in the Air". Ollie Gray gloriously picks his way through "Guitar Man", and Seán McAusland delivers some of the most powerful vocals of the night with show-stopping versions of "Come Together", "Music", and "Walk in the Room".

And then, of course, there’s the comedy. It’s got that rare, beautiful variety-show magic where the laughs hit just as hard as the high notes. The sketches are delightfully cheeky, brilliantly paced, and delivered with that perfect, winking music-hall charm that Trevor Payne and Gary Anderson have spent four decades mastering. Old favourites like their infamous, chaotic Andy Pandy sketch are back to cause absolute havoc. Trevor also treats us to a hilarious, weight-loss-themed take on "Rhinestone Cowboy" that had the audience in absolute stitches. Meanwhile, Gary really gets to show off his brilliant impersonation skills, serving up spot-on, hilarious takes on Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Forsyth, and Tommy Cooper.

Gary is also a beautifully soulful singer in his own right. His versions of "Mean Woman Blues", "A Man Without Love", and "Spirit in the Sky" felt like a warm vocal hug. And, naturally, it wouldn’t be a TBTD show without Trevor’s now-legendary, camp, and iconic takes on Sir Cliff Richard and Mick Jagger!

Adding a lovely bit of nostalgia, the company has partnered up with Boom Radio, a station that plays all the exact same glorious tunes. Presenters like Roger "Twiggy" Day pop up via voiceover to relive his days on Radio Caroline, alongside David Hamilton delivering his famous "Hamilton’s Hotshots" LP. It works beautifully to break the fast-paced timeline into neat little production chapters, like a stellar nod to "Sunday Night at the London Palladium".

One of my personal favourite parts was the end of Act One, where they played an iconic collection of songs from The Beatles "Abbey Road" album. Not only is it a visually stunning piece of theatre, but the vocals and harmonies are to die for. As a huge fan of the fab four, it's a real treat to hear some of the lesser known album tracks to get an airing.

Even after following the show for decades, I am still pleasantly surprised that they find incredible tracks they’ve somehow never done before. This year gives fantastic first outings to massive hits like "Ghostbusters", "Fools Fall In Love", and "Golden Slumbers".

By the time the iconic mega-mix finale rolled around, absolutely nobody was sitting down. The energy in that room was electric. When you have hundreds of people all completely letting go, unashamedly loving life, and doing the "Time Warp" together, theatre simply does not get any better than that. It’s a massive, collective celebration of great tunes and gorgeous memories. It is nostalgic, absolutely, but it feels so incredibly fresh.

Anyone who knows me knows just how much I love a good lighting design, and I adore the way the lighting here adds even more to the production. It almost takes you out of the theatre and into a massive arena. The high-quality design and execution of these technical elements is world-class.

THAT'LL BE THE DAY remains the undisputed, heavyweight champion of rock ’n’ roll variety. It’s spectacular, it’s heartwarming, and it is a total five-star triumph. Do yourself a massive favour: check the tour dates, grab a ticket the second it rolls into your local venue, and get ready to be buzzing all the way home!

CLICK HERE to head to the show's website where yoy can check out all upcoming tour dates, learn more about the show, and read cast biographies.

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 reviewer.

My ticket for this performance of That'll Be The Day was gifted by Prestige Productions, 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:

Trevor Payne; Gary Anderson; Nikki Wright; Lotty Anderson; Ollie Gray; Jarrod Loughlin; Mark Street; Seán McAusland; Eduardo Neto

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 55 minutes, including interval

To keep up to date with all the latest theatre news and more, follow Pink Prince Theatre on social media.

Find us on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky and TikTok.