THEATRE REVIEW: Groan Ups at Lighthouse Poole

There’s a new show in town as Groan Ups arrived at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts last night. And what a show it was. Produced by the critically-acclaimed Mischief Theatre who have made headlines with their success of The Play That Goes Wrong, Groan Ups is a show with a storyline familiar to all of us.

Set across 3 main acts, the 7-person main cast plays the same roles throughout with the story of Groan Ups exploring the growing up trip of 5 friends from early years, to adolescence, and then onto adulthood.

Using brilliant set design and creativity to demonstrate the different stages of life without ever leaving the traditional setting of the classroom, Groan Ups is a show that balances emotions often swaying between moments of belly-splitting laughter and more thoughtful seriousness as each character encounters their own challenges throughout the stages of life.

Every character added their own uniques piece of energy to the story with the varying personalities that develop as the show progresses each captivating the audience with Lauren Samuels playing Katie, and Dharmesh Patel as Spencer both producing performances that had us discussing the aftermath of the production long into the night.

It is often hard to find a theatre show that suits every age, with many West-End favourites more suited to an older audience, and other productions often made for the sole purpose of attracting younger viewers. However, Groan Ups truly is a show perfect for all with children, teenagers, and adults all able to relate to the characters on stage as they move through life.

Running between 15th - 19th February, Groan Ups is a show that simply has to be watched to be believed so if you’re considering an evening out in Poole then make sure to grab your tickets before they sell out for this brilliant, captivating, and hilarious show.