Review: Carrie: The Musical, Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

What does it take to turn teenage humiliation and religious trauma into theatrical spectacle, and why does Carrie: The Musical make it feel so wickedly fun?

There’s something deliciously fitting about staging Carrie: The Musical in an intimate fringe venue like the Brockley Jack Theatre. A story that thrives on teenage claustrophobia, social pressure, and explosive emotion feels right at home in a fringe theatre, and this production leans into that intensity with a campy, exciting modernisation of the cult classic.

For those unfamiliar, the plot follows Carrie White (Catherine Clay on the evening I attended), a painfully shy outsider navigating the brutal ecosystem of high school. Bullied relentlessly by her peers and suffocated at home by her deeply religious mother (Lauren Fitzgerald on this evening), Carrie exists on the margins, until she discovers she possesses telekinetic powers. When a seemingly kind prom invitation offers a glimpse of acceptance, it feels like the story might turn toward redemption. But, of course, this is a tale from Stephen King. Humiliation is never far away, and what unfolds is a spiralling collision of repression and supernatural rage.

This production understands that the show’s strength lies in that tonal balancing act. It doesn’t shy away from the inherent melodrama: instead, it embraces it. The heightened performances, minimalist but well-considered set, and stylised staging all contribute to a version of Carrie that feels knowingly camp without ever tipping into parody. The prom sequence is executed with a thrilling sense of inevitability; even if you know what’s coming, the tension is palpable. There are moments where the narrative’s pacing falters slightly, particularly in the lead-up to the final act, but the emotional throughline remains strong.

Crucially, the modernisation helps sharpen the story’s relevance. The dynamics of bullying feel painfully current, and the exploration of shame, particularly around the body and adolescence, lands with clarity. It’s here that the production’s decision to support period charities like the Bromley Hygiene Bank becomes especially poignant. In a story that begins with a traumatic, misunderstood moment tied to menstruation, this gesture feels less like a marketing add-on and more like a thoughtful extension of the show’s themes. It reframes Carrie’s experience through a contemporary lens of empathy and awareness, grounding the spectacle in something tangible and important.

More than just a revival, this feels like a production with purpose, and one that invites its audience to reflect as much as it entertains. Messy, heightened, and irresistibly theatrical, there’s no better fringe show to see for a night of high-stakes drama, big vocals and unapologetic flair.

Directed by Caitlin Hargreaves
Produced by Jon Leech
Musical Director: Catherine Andrews
Assistant Director/Assistant Musical Director: Cameron Lundy
Choreography by Lizzie Ainley
Assistant Choreography by Clodagh O’Neill
Costumes by Jon Leech and Leanne Tedder
Set and Props by Allana Ludgrove
Welfare and Intimacy Coordinator: Tricia Wey
Production Manager: Katie Twist

Carrie: The Musical plays at Brockley Jack Studio Theatre until Saturday 1 August.