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The Lightning Thief

 
Hannah Mackenzie Review by Hannah Mackenzie 3 Published: 24 Sep 2025 Edinburgh Festival Theatre Show Dates: 23 Sep 2025-27 Sep 2025

Over the past decade or so, the theatre world has embraced the trend of turning familiar books and films into musicals. One of the more recent additions is Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, based on the book by Rick Riordan and currently on tour in the United Kingdom.

Suffers from a loyalty to its source material that hampers its ability to pace itself

Unfortunately, the show suffers from two significant problems in its writing – the songs and the pacing. Some of the songs are underwritten, with lyrics that are too simplistic. Strong is especially guilty of this, being far too easy to predict line by line. In addition, numbers that should have received powerful reprises – particularly Good Kid, the best song in the show – are woefully underused. The story itself is strong, drawn from a bestselling book, but the pacing is uneven. The musical places its interval at the end of what should really have been the prologue, leaving an entire book’s worth of adventure crammed into a longer-than-average second act.

However, this production is not all bad. It boasts a strong cast of actors with powerful voices, and the main trio – Vasco Emauz (Percy), Cahir O’Neill (Grover) and Kayna Montecillo (Annabeth) – have good onstage chemistry that would be even more impactful were their characters given more room to breathe.

The sets and stage effects are also hugely impressive. The set, based on the underground LA tunnels, creates a grand yet urban environment for the characters to inhabit, while the use of projection in each scene is striking, particularly when portraying Percy’s powers. A standout stage effect is Percy’s pen that transforms into a sword, smoothly executed and setting the show off on a strong footing.

Ultimately, the production suffers from a loyalty to its source material that hampers its ability to pace itself as a stage show. It is likely to be best enjoyed by Percy Jackson fans – and therein lies its worth. Writer Joe Tracz has noted that he sometimes hears this musical was someone’s first entry into theatre. This show has its problems, but they are not unfixable or unforgivable. And if it gets a book-reader into the theatre – or a theatre-goer into the books – then perhaps it has contributed something of value after all.

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The Blurb:

The epic adventures of Percy Jackson are coming to the stage in Edinburgh. A thrilling tale for gods and mortals of all ages, this gripping story proves that being ‘normal’ is anything but.

A bolt of stage magic

When 16 year old Percy Jackson discovers that he is the half-blood son of the Greek God, Poseidon, his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he could possibly have imagined.

With newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want and a whole mythology textbook’s worth of mythical monsters on his tail, Percy must learn what it means to be a hero.

The future of the world hangs in the balance as Percy and his friends embark on an epic adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Over the past 20 years, Percy Jackson has become a worldwide phenomenon. First there was the best-selling series of books, then two incredible films and a Disney TV series. Now the adventures of Percy Jackson will burst onto the stage in Edinburgh!