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REVIEW | Extraordinary Women, Jermyn Street Theatre - London
- Harry Brogan
- Jul 26
- 3 min read
AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
Extraordinary Women with extraordinary voices!
Set in the charmingly intimate Jermyn Street Theatre, which seats only 70, this musical experience was up close and personal, allowing the audience to be completely immersed in the world of the performers. The small venue amplified the emotional and musical nuances, creating a truly engaging evening.
Director Paul Foster and Choreographer Jo Goodwin brought buoyant energy and dynamic movement to the stage, crafting a narrative that skilfully balanced moments of comedy with heartfelt emotional beats. Their chemistry and command of the space made the performance feel both grounded and alive.
Amy Ellen Richardson gave a standout performance as Rosalba, bringing both warmth and complexity to the role. Richardson's vocal delivery was rich and emotionally charged, capturing the character’s inner conflict and quiet strength with remarkable nuance. Richardson conveyed Rosalba’s journey with subtle shifts in tone and expression, creating a compelling presence that grounded many of the more abstract or fast-moving scenes. Whether in tender, reflective moments or scenes of heightened emotion, Richardson brought depth and authenticity that anchored the musical’s emotional core.
The set design, by Alex Marker, was simplistic but elegant, perfectly suited to the intimacy of the Jermyn Street Theatre. Rather than relying on elaborate scenery or constant changes, the production used minimal props and clever staging to evoke different locations and moods. This restraint worked in the show’s favour, allowing the performances and music to take centre stage while maintaining a strong sense of atmosphere. Thoughtful lighting choices (by Lighting Designer Alex Musgrave) and subtle design elements helped shift the tone from scene to scene with fluidity, proving that less can indeed be more when executed with care.
The first half of Extraordinary Women held great promise, with vibrant performances, engaging music, and a sense of narrative momentum. However, the second half unfortunately did not sustain that energy. It lost direction, with pacing that dragged in places and scenes that felt underdeveloped. Several plot threads became muddled, and emotional payoffs were either rushed or left unresolved. What began as a compelling and well-paced production started to unravel, making it harder to stay fully invested in the characters and their journeys.
The show boasts an immensely talented cast, a strong musical score (by composer Sarah Travis), and a bold concept that has the potential to be truly exceptional. Several songs stood out for their catchiness and power, and the vocal performances throughout were nothing short of impressive. However, despite these strengths, there were moments where the scenes felt somewhat disjointed. The transitions between sections were occasionally choppy, and the intertwined relationships between characters became confusing to follow. At times, it felt like the emotional stakes were diluted by a lack of clarity in the storytelling, with some narrative threads left underdeveloped or unresolved.
Jack Butterworth was a particular standout. Every time Butterworth entered the stage, a new character to life, slipping seamlessly into different accents and personas. Butterworth's comic timing was impeccable, and subtle, often hilarious interjections added a delightful layer of levity to the show.
The show ended rather abruptly, leaving the audience with a sense of incompleteness. While the story touched on compelling themes and emotional arcs, the lack of a clear or satisfying conclusion made the ending feel rushed and slightly underwhelming.
Nonetheless, Extraordinary Women's creative ambition and the sheer talent on stage made for a captivating experience. I’m genuinely intrigued to see how this production might evolve. With a fuller orchestration and a larger stage, Extraordinary Women could gain the structural clarity and dramatic scale it needs to truly soar. There's a clear passion behind this work, and with a few refinements, it could be something quite extraordinary.
★★★
Extraordinary Women is playing at Jermyn Street Theatre until 10th August 2025
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