No Limits at The Turbine Theatre

(Photo Credit: Danny Kaan)

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'No Limits’ is a new song-cycle written by Sam Thomas which is currently running at Battersea’s Turbine Theatre. It follows the lives of a series of characters played by an exciting cast of West End talent including Natalie Paris, known for originating the role of ‘Jane Seymour’ in smash hit musical, SIX as well as TikTok and Heathers sensation, Hannah Lowther. The characters all from different walks of life come to learn throughout the show the importance of self-belief as well as embracing their differences and how this can lead to strength in the face of adversity. Tickets are £29.50 and available from the Turbine Theatre's website, the show runs until the 26th February. I want to thank the team at Tobin & Miles PR for inviting me to watch this performance.

Unlike a traditional musical, ‘No Limits’ takes on the form of a song cycle in which there is no proper story which connects the songs, except for a series of themes. The music, written by Sam Thomas is weaved expertly with his lyrics to be able to form a set of stories for the multiple characters the actors each portray, with each individual story providing a tantalising glimpse into the lives of these characters. What made these stories so engaging was how normal they were, whilst most shows try to explore the extraordinary, this show explores the ordinary, every person watching will be able to see themselves in one of the characters, whether it is the two best friends scared of drifting apart or grieving a lost parent.

A real standout with this show is the incredible cast, with only 5 members, this cast is filled to the brim with West End stars including Natalie Paris (SIX) and Hannah Lowther (Heathers) as well as the other three exceptional talents, Michael Mather (But I'm A Cheerleader), Mary Moore (Grease) and Owen Clayton (JULIE: The Musical). A highlight of the first act comes from ‘The Ballad of The One-Night Stand’ which is an fast-paced and energetic duet by Clayton and Mather which is able to highlight the exceptional choreography by movement director Rhys Wilkinson (& Juliet) which is exceptional throughout the show.

The vocal talent within this show is one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, with the titular number allowing for a masterclass in riffs from Natalie Paris. The ingenious set design by Justin Williams (Death Drop) places the action into a modern apartment which helps to further the realism of the show, a highlight being the sofa used which acts as a playing space for a lot of the more personal moments of the show.

This is one of the most exciting and promising pieces of theatre I have seen recently with Sam Thomas’ songs as well as Dean Johnson’s (BKLYN) direction creating a show which I am sure will go far, there are truly 'no limits' (I'll see myself out...).