The Cher Show by KTCollective, Derbyshire Review
Written by Clare and Emmie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are our own
The Cher Show follows the atmospheric rise of Cheryl Sarkisian or Cher, the loves she found and lost, the battles she fought for fame and notoriety as well as against the people who underestimated her, through the storytelling of the character of Cher herself or more suitably themselves as three people “Babe”, “Lady” and “Star” who each share an individual portion of their stories as well as overlapping with each other.
Following the 2022-23 UK Tour, I have been a fan of The Cher Show, so it was a joy to return to the show this time at Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton performed by the local performing collective at Kristian Thomas Company.
Natasha Cartwright, Beth Denham-Berry, and Helen Perry each brought Cher to life brilliantly, capturing her distinctive voice both in their solo moments and when performing together. As a trio, their harmonies blended seamlessly, creating a rich, unified sound. They also looked the part, dazzling in glittering costumes and wigs that paid tribute to some of the stars’ most iconic outfits.
Cher’s first love, Sonny Bono, played by Aaron Murray, goes on a journey through the show from his first meeting to his end, with his memorial scene between him and “Star” showing the love and affection between the pair, leading to an emotional ending to their story. Speaking again about the vocals, Murray has clearly been working to reproduce Bono’s distinctive nasally vocal style.
The ensemble cast brings energy, although sometimes the volume of movement on the stage feels slightly squashed, leading to the choreography feeling slightly restricted. The choreography oozed potential to go further in being more polished overall, as some areas felt slightly messy. However, the presentation of “Dark Lady”, a well-performed quartet with a central female surrounded by young men, was particularly enjoyable.
The set and lighting design often created a concert-like atmosphere, with much of the staging built around large transport cases that were skilfully moved on and off by the ensemble. At times, cast members even balanced atop these cases in heels, supported as they were carefully manoeuvred around the stage. The production also made inventive use of these elements to mark the passage of time, cleverly indicating different dates throughout the show.
There were, unfortunately, a few moments where microphone cues were missed, with cast members arriving on stage before their mics were live. Fortunately, the venue’s intimate size meant their voices could still be heard, so it didn’t significantly detract from the action.
It was lovely to return to this show, complete with Cher’s back catalogue; you will leave dancing through the aisles.
The Cher Show plays at the Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton until 11 April 2026
★★★★
