‘When your dad is a god, life can be tough
I met the guy once, and once was enough’
– Rob Rokicki, The Lightning Thief

Growing up, parents are gods, even when they are deeply flawed or non-existent. Regardless of their part in your life, they are essential to your genetic make-up, whether that’s eye colour, your neurodivergent superpower or physical abilities. And in all the manifestations of the original books by Rick Riordan, that is the central pulse of The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical: a group of vulnerable and abandoned teens at Camp Half-Blood, a secret camp for the children of the Greek Gods.

The story speaks to young audiences trying to define themselves beyond the inherited chaos they have no control over. I guess that sounds familiar to us all. The half-blood demi-gods on stage navigate identity, legacy and responsibility through song, dance and scrapping. In the end, they prove themselves stronger and more morally grounded than past legacies almost too heavy to carry. Twas ever thus. And the world would be so much better run by teenagers, if only they could get up earlier.

Meanwhile, travel is central to the narrative. The journey through America and the underworld affords layers of an existence beneath the visible one. Sewers, tunnels and hidden spaces become routes of survival for the phenomenally talented threesome of Percy (Vasco Emauz), Annabeth (Kayna Montecillo) and Grover (Alex Anderton) as they battle monsters on their way to save Percy’s mum Sally Jackson (Simone Robinson) from Hades.

The subterranean imagery is compelling, the idea that navigation in life happens under the surface of performance, away from the polished world. It feels poignant for the target audience: adolescence as underworld quest. Coupled with Rob Rokicki’s passionate lyrics and the powerful voice of Kayna Montecillo, Annabeth’s Grand Plan song hit me in the heart. Expected to embrace invisibility, Annabeth wants to be seen as a fighter and winner. The lyrics strike a chord in our world. It shouldn’t have to be a grand plan to be seen and yet it is. The words are strong and sorrowful in their big ask of such a little thing:

‘My grand plan is that I will be remembered

My grand plan, just you wait and see

You better wise up cos I’ll rise up

… And someday soon someone will notice me’

The set design by Ryan Dawson Laight supports the rock musical in raw and rusty industrial structures while the lighting design by Tim Deilling adorns the set with a magical, natural world and travel projections.

The ensemble works relentlessly, showcasing both comic timing and vocal strength. Nial Sheehy, Simone Robinson and Ellie Grace-Cousins are particularly impressive, combining sharp humour with strong musicality. Danny Beard as Mr D brings a distinctive spidery stage presence and a powerful voice much like the original Mr D, George Salazar. But Beard’s version is Lily Savage meets Little Richard, and the audience were there for it. There is something slightly separate in Beard’s character – a ‘been there done that’ persona whose give-a-shit-o-meter was thrown out years ago with his empty bottles. This energy cuts through the fast-paced hopes and verve of the young characters, leaving his bitter sediment for slowing down the anxiety, as he shines like a seasoned performer on stage.

As for the show itself, my only reservation is this: with the lyrics are so slick and fine, it’s a shame that the pace dictates that we miss some of their impact, the drums and guitar are often too loud to hear them. The performers are giving it large, but no lungs can compete with a rock band’s high volume. Turn it down a bit, please.

Ultimately, it’s the spectacle that elevates the show rather than the original story. Clever theatrical tricks, bold lighting and a dynamic score meshed with the high talents of the cast create a production that feels like an expansive world. Beneath this sits a simple truth: we all inherit something, the quest is deciding what we do with it.

By Cathy Crabb

Main image by Johan Persson

 

The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical is at HOME, Manchester until February 21, 2026. For more information, click here.