Mean Girls - Milton Keynes Theatre

It's feeling a bit mean at Milton Keynes Theatre this week as the musical theatre adaptation of the iconic 00s film Mean Girls hits MK. Be kind is not something in the plastics vocab.

Meet The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen.  They rule North Shore High and will burn anyone who gets in their way. Home-schooled Cady Heron may think she knows a thing or two about survival of the fittest thanks to her zoologist parents, but high school is a whole new level of savage.  When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung. This is not noughties Mean Girls. Its Mean Girls 2.0 for the Alpha generation.

Full disclosure, I was wary about seeing this show.  I had watched the musical film adaptation and wasn’t crazy about it, but this stage show is something else.  This show is fantastic and has such high energy and enthusiasm. Its like Heathers on happy pills. The choreography is some of the best I have seen and I loved the canteen dance with the red trays. Ingenious.

The cast is led by Faye Tozer who needs no introduction as far as I am concerned.  I already knew how talented Faye is, not only from Steps with her beautiful voice, but from when I saw her many years ago on this same stage performing Tell Me On A Sunday.  Faye is such a professional and you see it first hand as in this show she plays three very different characters.  She absolutely smashes it.  I especially adored her as Regina’s mum, but boy does Faye have a lot of changes.  If there is an award for that, I nominate her.  Outstanding performance.  

Emily Lane is Cady (pronounced KD), and her voice is amazing.  I love the transformation of Cady and Emily does it so well that we still kinda like Cady even when she is a plastic.  I loved some of the lines, but especially grool which is a combination of cool and great.  I do things like this all the time so could really relate.  

Vivian Panka as Regina George is a big deal as the song goes.  Vivian is a triple threat and her song, Watch the word burn, is a stand out number.  I also loved her outfit for Halloween.  Think Brittney Spears’ Toxic video in that naked looking one piece and you’ve got it.  Well the memo did read ‘Sexy’. Nailed it. Sophie Pourret as Karen is so refreshing.  I loved her innocence and stupidity.  Sophie has made this role her own and I loved her in it.  Kiara Dario is Gretchen who delivered in abundance. Gretchen is really trying to work out who she is so there is a range of emotions to play and Kiara is fabulous at giving a bit of depth to Gretchen, which is a juxtaposition to Karen.  

I knew Georgie Buckland as Janis was a big deal as before the show I met people who had travelled from Israel to see her and they raved so much about Georgie because they love her.  Georige did not disappoint.  Her vocals are insane and she is everything you hoped Janis to be.  I love the role of Janis which is fundemental to the whole show.  Georgie is phenomenal – what a star.  Finally, I want to say that Max Gill as Damian is everything I wanted them to be and more.  A true theatre kid and I so want to adopt them.  They bring the next level of humour and joy to an already fun production.

MEAN GIRLS recently took home the coveted ‘Best New Musical’ award at the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards. Its well deserved.

I really enjoyed this show. I am not sure if it will quite replace Heathers for me (which currently sits in my top 5 of favourite musicals) but it’s definitely one I would happily see again.

Looking for a fun show with memorable characters, razor-sharp wit, and sass and attitude to die for? Look no further.  Its fetch! Oh and remember to wear pink on Wednesdays.

Mean Girls is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 18 April.