Avenue Q, Book by Jeff Whitty, Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx, The Shaftesbury Theatre, 270 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2 | until end of August 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

Photo credit: Matt Crockett

Avenue Q

Book by Jeff Whitty

Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx

The Shaftesbury Theatre, 270 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2 | until end of August 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

“…funny as ever.”   

First staged here twenty years ago this revival remains as funny as ever and the cast, most of whom also manipulate the puppet characters, while providing the voices and singing the songs, is every bit as good as their predecessors. Even if it has lost some of its bite – gay jokes are ten a penny now whereas two decades ago it was all ever so shocking – it remains first rate night out if not one to take the kiddywinks to. The only drawback is the Shaftesbury, a barn of a theatre, is far too big for the show so watch where you end up sitting. Centre stalls up to about row M would be ideal and possibly the front of the Circle, but elsewhere one is really too far away to get the full effect of human and puppet interaction although to be fair the sound system does ensure the lyrics come across loud and clear and the sight lines are mostly all right. But this a show that needs intimacy., Avenue Q, which started on Broadway in 2003, was part of a series of puppet shows like the Muppets, Spitting Image and Sesame Street that were all the rage back then, except, of course, with this difference - you got to see the manipulators. It was also very gay - especially then - which added to the frisson created among the audience Princeton (Noah Harrison) comes to live in Avenue Q in New York fresh from college and seeking the purpose in life – will it Kate Monster or Lucy the Slut (Emily Benjamin)? Meanwhile roommates Rod (Harrison again) and Nicky (Charlie McCullagh) keep popping in and out of the closet. The mix is marvellous as indeed are some of the songs, notable among them Everyone’s a little bit racist and Schadenfreude. So go, laugh, buy the souvenirs and sit yourself in the right part of the theatre.

Cast

Emily Benjamin – Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut

Noah Harrison – Princeton/Rod

Meg Hateley – Mrs T/Bad Idea Bear & others

Oliver Jacobson – Brian

Charlie McCullagh – Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bad Idea Bear

Amelia Kinu Muus – Christmas Eve

Dionne Ward-Anderson – Gary

Angelis Hunt, Lesley Lemon, Jessica Niles Kadi – Ensemble

Jasmine Beel – Dance Captain

Creatives

Director – Jason Moore

Musical Director – Benjamin Holder

Choreographer – Ebony Molina

Puppet Conception & Designer – Rick Lyon

Set Designer – Anna Louizos

Costume Designer – Jean Chan

Lighting Designer – Tim Lutkin

Sound Designer – Paul Groothuis

Video Designer – Nina Dunn for Pikellux

Puppet Coach – Jestyn Evans & Andy Heath