Disney’s Hercules the Musical reimagines the beloved 1997 animated classic with a fresh theatrical twist. The story loosely follows the original arc of Herc going from zero to hero. Expect gods, monsters, sassy women, and just enough Disney magic to keep your nostalgia nerves tingling.
Hades absolutely steals the show with a smirk that could melt Olympus—charismatic, hilarious, and delightfully camp. He’s the villain you root for, which says a lot. The Muses, however, are the real MVPs: bringing gospel fire, comedic timing, and energy levels that could power Mount Olympus itself.
Hercules brings full beast-mode energy, leaping and lifting his way through every scene like he’s in a CrossFit myth. And Meg? Sass levels off the charts. She gave us drama, dry wit, and some seriously sharp acting chops. You could practically hear the eye-rolls from the back row—and we loved every second.
The production design deserves its own spot in the pantheon. The stage was a playground of moving pillars and shifting sets that turned scenes into action-packed mazes. At times, it felt like Takeshi’s Castle: Myth Edition, and I was so here for it. 
Costumes? Gorgeous. Vibrant. Unique. The monster designs were absolutely outrageous—in a good way. The Hydra? Iconic. Think Power Rangers villain meets Greek myth—flamboyant, oversized, and fantastically executed.
The final boss monster in the last act was chef’s kiss, and there’s even a slow-mo Matrix fight scene that had my jaw on the floor.
The lighting brought real magic to the Underworld, and seeing statues literally come to life? Still scratching my head at how they pulled that off. Bravo.
This is where Hercules didn’t quite hit all twelve labours.
There are about six new original songs spread across Herc, Meg, Hades, and the Muses. Out of all of them, only one stuck in my head long enough to hum on the Tube ride home. Some songs felt like filler, dragging the pace down and causing those sneaky mid-show yawns. The song performances, however, were fantastic—superbly choreographed, colourful, and bursting with Disney joy, even if the tunes didn’t always slap.
There’s a lot to admire about this stage adaptation: the physicality, the visuals, the humour, and the creative risks. It pays lovely tribute to Disney’s original while daring to walk a different path (even if it loses a few Pegasus feathers along the way).
Still, the story occasionally drags, and some emotional beats and iconic moments from the film are trimmed down or missing altogether. Fans of the animation might feel a bit short-changed.
And while I respect the physical toll this show takes—seriously, Herc was dripping with sweat by Act II—someone please get this man a towel. He’s fighting monsters, not running a marathon.
Hercules the Musical is a dazzling and daring reimagining with sky-high production value, lovable performances, and Muses that sing you into orbit. It may not have nailed all the songs or emotional crescendos, but it brought the heart, the humour, and one hell of a hydra.
