Fun Home

Despite being a five-time Tony Award-winning musical, I'd never actually heard of Fun Home before it arrived at the Royal Exchange. I went in knowing very little about the story, which I actually quite liked. Sometimes it's nice to experience a show without any expectations or spoilers, and this definitely felt like one of those occasions. While it's technically a musical, it's not your typical theatre production packed with huge dance numbers and songs you'll be humming on the way home. Instead, it's a much more intimate piece that focuses on storytelling, relationships and looking back on the moments that shape us. A show perfect for the Royal Exchange.

Based on Alison Bechdel's autobiographical graphic novel, Fun Home follows Alison as she reflects on her childhood growing up in her family's funeral home. Told through three different versions of Alison at various stages of her life, the story explores her relationship with her father, Bruce, alongside her own journey of self-discovery. One thing I really liked was that the show tells us right from the beginning about Bruce's fate and that he was a gay man living a hidden life. Rather than saving it for a dramatic twist, it allows you to watch every interaction between the family with a completely different perspective, making the story feel far more reflective.

The Royal Exchange's in-the-round stage suits the production perfectly. The set itself is fairly simple, relying on props and clever lighting to do most of the storytelling. There aren't huge scene changes or elaborate set pieces, instead subtle shifts in furniture, lighting and movement take us between different memories, locations and points in Alison's life. It keeps the story moving naturally and means the focus stays firmly on the characters.

Without a doubt though, it's the young company who steal the show.

Every time they appeared on stage, the energy in the auditorium completely lifted. Their confidence, comic timing and vocals were brilliant, and each of their musical numbers was rewarded with huge applause from the audience. They bring so much warmth and fun to the production, balancing out some of the heavier themes with genuine laugh-out-loud moments. It's no surprise they quickly became the audience favourites.

Leading the cast, Jodie McNee (Nora: A Doll's House, King Lear, The Frontline) is excellent as Alison. Acting as both narrator and participant in her own memories, she effortlessly guides the audience through the story, making it feel as though she's sharing personal moments rather than simply performing them.

Alice Audrey O'Hanlon (Billy Elliot the Musical, Mamma Mia!, Cinderella) is equally impressive as Medium Alison, capturing all the awkwardness, excitement and uncertainty that comes with growing up. She has some wonderfully funny moments throughout, particularly as Alison begins to understand herself, and she's incredibly easy to root for.

Alongside them, Nigel Harman (Shrek the Musical, Downton Abbey, Casualty) delivers a thoughtful performance as Bruce. He's a difficult character to pin down, loving one moment and distant the next, but Harman handles those contradictions brilliantly. Rather than presenting Bruce as simply good or bad, he allows the audience to see the complexity behind the character and the struggles he's trying to hide.

Although Fun Home tackles themes of identity, grief and family secrets, it's much funnier than I expected. There are plenty of quirky, almost goofy moments scattered throughout that stop it ever becoming too heavy, and the humour feels completely natural. Those lighter scenes make the more emotional moments land even harder.

I also loved that the running time means the show is performed without an interval, as it’s just under two hours so it never feels like it needs one. There isn't an obvious point where the story should pause, and keeping everything as one continuous performance allows Alison's memories to flow naturally from one chapter of her life to the next.

If you're expecting huge showstopping numbers and big ensemble routines, this probably isn't that kind of musical. The score is much more understated, supporting the story rather than taking centre stage. While there weren't any songs that immediately stuck with me afterwards, the music fits the tone of the production perfectly and helps carry the story along.

Fun Home is a warm, funny and honest coming-of-age story that proves you don't need huge showstopping numbers to make a musical memorable. With brilliant performances across the company, particularly from its outstanding young cast, it's another production the Royal Exchange can be proud of.

WE SCORE FUN HOME..