The Belgrade Theatre detonates a riotous blast of dark comedy, killer harmonies, and high‑school havoc with Heathers – a production that embraces the show’s cult status while delivering a slick, high‑voltage night of theatre.
It’s bold, brazen, and wickedly fun, but beneath the neon chaos lies a surprisingly incisive look at teenage pressure, identity, and the seductive pull of rebellion.
Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day.
But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true.
That is, until J.D., the mysterious teen rebel, turns up and teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it’s murder being a somebody…
Based on the iconic 1989 cult film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers first premiered in Los Angeles in 2013 to sold-out audiences before transferring to New York’s New World Stages in 2014. The show was reimagined for its 2018 London debut, featuring new songs and updated script.
This latest production thrives on performance. Veronica Sawyer is played by Gerardine Sacdalan with irresistible charm and emotional clarity – smart, conflicted, and vocally superb. Her journey from eager outsider to morally torn accomplice is paced with real nuance, grounding the show’s wildest moments in something recognisably human.
Opposite her, JD, played by Louis Hearsey, is both magnetic and unsettling, his descent from brooding misfit to full‑blown menace handled with chilling precision, giving the production its darker, more psychologically charged edge.
And then there are the Heathers – three technicolour tyrants who dominate the stage with razor‑sharp timing and deliciously exaggerated cruelty. The trio of Liberty Stottor, Jessica Ibadin and Lou Henry bring their own flavour of venom, and together they form a gloriously toxic trio that the audience can’t help but relish.
The Belgrade’s staging is fast, fluid, and unapologetically stylised. Bright blocks of colour, sharp lighting cues, and clever transitions keep the energy high while echoing the show’s comic‑book aesthetic. The choreography is tight and playful, leaning into the satire without ever losing polish.
What makes Heathers endure is its ability to juggle humour with uncomfortable truths. This production doesn’t shy away from the show’s darker undercurrents – bullying, toxic popularity, teen mental health, and the romanticisation of danger. Instead, it threads them through the comedy with a knowing wink, allowing the audience to laugh while still feeling the sting.
The tonal shifts are handled with care, ensuring the satire never trivialises the subject matter. It’s a tricky balance, but the Belgrade’s company lands it.
It’s a production that understands the show’s cult appeal (even when it comes to managing the queues for the merchandise stand!) while giving it fresh theatrical bite.
But it may not be to everyone’s taste so be sure to read up on the subject matter first, especially if you are triggered by the subject of suicide.
As a production, it’s a darkly delicious triumph that leaves Coventry humming, laughing, and maybe reflecting a little too.
Heathers plays at The Belgrade Theatre until Saturday. Book HERE.
