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Hamilton is finally on it’s UK tour and for 6 weeks, you can see it at the Norwich Theatre Royal! Read on to see what we thought!
About the show
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi award-winning cultural phenomenon Hamilton is touring the UK and Ireland for the very first time and is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal for a 6 week season from 16 Sep 2025 to 25 Oct 2025
Hamilton is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and helped shape the very foundations of the America we know today. The score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway – the story of America then, as told by America now.
Hamilton has book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire and is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton.
Winner of 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, 7 Olivier Awards, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
UK & Ireland tour – Principal cast
- Alexander Hamilton – Marley Fenton
- Aaron Burr – Billy Nevers
- Eliza Hamilton – Casey Al-Shaqsy
- Hercules Mulligan / James Madison – KM Drew Boateng
- Angelica Schuyler – Chasity Crisp
- Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson – Ashley J. Daniels
- John Laurens / Philip Hamilton – Shak Mancel James
- Peggy Schuyler / Maria Reynolds – Naomi Katiyo
- George Washington – Akmed Junior Khemalai
- King George III – Louis Maskell
Additional ensemble & cover roles
Jonathan Andre, Simeon Beckett, Melad Hamidi, Imogen Rose Hart, Bethany Kate, Richard Logun, Tamara Morgan, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Izzy Read, Harry Robinson, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Samantha Shuma, Michael James Stewart, Jack Whitehead, Sian Yeo, and more.
Creative team
- Book, Music & Lyrics – Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Director – Thomas Kail
- Choreography – Andy Blankenbuehler
- Musical Supervision & Orchestrations – Alex Lacamoire
- Scenic Design – David Korins
- Costume Design – Paul Tazewell
- Lighting Design – Howell Binkley
- Sound Design – Nevin Steinberg
- Hair & Wig Design – Charles G. LaPointe
What we thought
From the minute Hamilton was shown on Disney+ for the first time, quickly becoming a firm favourite. The anticipation was pretty high before we got to see the show in Norwich, and a bit of apprehension about a cast other than what we got to see filmed.
From the minute the show started, I had goosebumps. My worries very quickly melted away with the whispers of ‘Alexander Hamilton…’.
I wish I could say that Marley Fenton was the star as Alexander Hamilton, but Billy Nevers absolutely steals the show as Aaron Burr. Right from the start he had such a strong presence on stage and made Burr feel like so much more than just Hamilton’s rival. Wait For It was such a highlight, sung with so much emotion that the whole theatre went quiet. By the end you couldn’t help but feel for him, even if you didn’t agree with the choices he made.
Jonathan Groff, a firm favourite of mine no matter what he is in, has a role with big shoes to fill. However, playing King George III is Louis Maskell, and he does it wonderfully. Is it the same? No, but that’s not a bad thing. There’s a very different feel to this King George, with a different maddness and somehow in much more of a British way. I loved him though, and it was great to see a really different spin on this role.
With music and lyrics from Lin-Manuel Miranda, you know you’re in for a treat, even if you haven’t seen this on the TV before. This show has such a mix and it’s so refreshing to hear rap, Hip Hop and RnB in a stage show! At the same time, there’s not too much of anything all at once, and each number is so different to the next. The amount of lines some of these performers have to memorise is crazy!
The staging at Norwich Theatre Royal was just stunning and worked so well for a show as fast-paced as Hamilton. Although this is a small theatre compared to some, it will all worked really well. The set might look quite simple at first with its wooden beams, staircases and balconies, but it transforms throughout the performance thanks to clever lighting and slick scene changes. The revolving stage was used to great effect too, adding movement and drama, especially in the duels and bigger ensemble numbers.
It’s suggested that Hamilton is for people over the age of 10, which I think is about right. There are some quite dark themes throughout, including duels, war, death and adultery. Although there’s nothing too graphic, the sensitive subjects are there. We are seeing this again in a few weeks with Erin, who is nearly 9 but she’s seen the recording numerous times, so is well prepared.
I think fans, whether having seen the filming on Disney+, on the show on the West End, will be so pleased with this production. On the other hand, if you’re new to Hamilton, you’re in for a real treat and be prepared to be wow’d.