The late 90s and early 2000s marked a golden era of teen movie brilliance – Mean Girls, Legally Blonde and 10 Things I Hate About You should come to mind. And let’s not forget the UK’s holy trinity: St Trinian’s, Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Wild Child. Fast forward to 2025, and stage adaptations of some of the most iconic, coming-of-age films are finally making their way to London’s West End.
Recently, the eagerly anticipated Clueless musical made its West End debut at the iconic Trafalgar Theatre, just a short stroll from some of London’s top landmarks like St James’s Park, Trafalgar Square and Horse Guards Parade. The musical has been brought to life by the same director and writer of the hit 1995 film, Amy Heckerling, who was originally inspired by Jane Austen’s novel Emma and its themes of class, power and relationships.
So, what’s the storyline? Much like the film, the musical follows the life of the glamorous, rich and socially elite Cher Horowitz (Emma Flynn Bespolka), a 17-year-old student at Beverly Hills High School who cares more about being popular than anything else. We see Cher set out on a mission with best friend Dionne (Chyna-Rose Frederick) to make the awkward new girl at school Tai (Romona Lewis-Malley) popular. During Cher’s matchmaking project to set Tai up with the coolest boy in school – Elton (Max Mirza) – she’s faced with challenges that unmask her own insecurities.
New York actress Emma Flynn Bespolka (Beautiful, Little Shop of Horrors) dazzles in the lead role from the moment the spotlights turn on until the curtains fall. In the opening scene, we see her in her swish bedroom with floor-to-ceiling shelves brimming with designer clothes and bags. Sadly, in this version Cher doesn’t pick her outfit using a computerised wardrobe, but nonetheless, the musical starts with a feel-good vibe as she jumps straight into the iconic yellow plaid blazer and pleated mini-skirt co-ord that fans of the film have obsessed over since the 90s.
From this moment forward, her costumes are a riot of colour and pattern. I loved the red dress that she wore while held at gunpoint for her purse, and so did the rest of the audience. The theatre erupted with huge applause as Cher exclaimed the legendary line: “You don’t understand, this is an Alaïa!” after gladly handing over her purse but refusing to lie face down on the dirty ground in her designer dress.
There are plenty of other nostalgia-inducing costumes (shoutout to Tony award-winning Paloma Young of Peter and the Starcatcher) throughout the production, including classic shirt and vest combos and plenty of snapbacks, chains and jorts sported by Dionne’s boyfriend Murray (Rabi Kondé) and Tai’s true love interest Travis (Blake Jordan). Despite this, Dionne’s outfits felt somewhat flat in comparison to the bold, vibrant style and striking hair accessories that she’s loved for on-screen.
Sure, Clueless is famed for its fashion, but it’s also known for its iconic slang, which is accurately depicted throughout the musical. A few highlights include Elton mistaking Cher’s matchmaking as a sign that she likes him, followed by her squealing, “As if!” and when the new stylish boy Christian (Isaac J Lewis) catches Cher’s eye, she refers to him as a “Total Baldwin”. It goes without saying that there are plenty of “totally buggin’” moments, but there are also a fair few modern phrases like “That’s so slay!”.
True to the film, Cher lives at home with her high-flying lawyer father Mel (Ryan O’Donell, who also plays the role of Mr Hall and Cher’s driving instructor) and her housekeeper Lucy (Imelda Warren-Green, also Miss G and Emma). We’re quickly introduced to Cher’s stepbrother Josh (Keelan McAuley), who, in some scenes, comes across a little dorkier than Paul Rudd’s portrayal of the 18-year-old in the film. Yet there is no denying that he brings huge experience from his previous roles in Heathers the Musical and Grease, which is reflected in his solo of the song “Human Barbies”.
Speaking of music, the songs strike the perfect balance of 90s hip-hop and modern pop – put it this way, I quickly added the catchy tunes to my own playlist. This is hardly surprising given that the original score is courtesy of multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall (Suddenly I See, Black Horse and The Cherry Tree) and lyrics are by Grammy Award-winner and three-time Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Sister Act).
Following the interval, we watch Tai gain popularity and Cher begin to question whether she’s a good person after failing her driving test (which is hilariously depicted as a sofa that transforms into a car) and discovering that the dashing Christian is, in fact, more interested in guys than her. Isaac J Lewis’s performance as Christian impresses and rightfully received massive praise from the audience for his impeccable dancing and witty one-liners.
I love that we see Cher volunteering to help the victims of the Pismo Beach disaster, but unlike the film, it’s here that we see Josh confess his feeling for Cher as he jumps to her defence against Elton’s bitter remarks. Once Josh and Cher seal the deal, the whole cast rallies together to see Miss G and Mr Hall tie the knot in a spectacular finish that had the entire cast dancing to a standing ovation from audience.
Clueless the musical is showing at the Trafalgar Theatre until September 2025. Be sure to arrive early and make a beeline straight to the bar where a stellar lineup of cocktails including two themed specials – The Cher (white peach bellini) and The Dionne (strawberry bellini) – await.
Book tickets to see Clueless the musical.
Food and drink inspiration
The Trafalgar Theatre is conveniently located near Covent Garden, famously known as London’s hotspot for pre-theatre dining. Food highlights near the Trafalgar Theatre include Jackson Boxer’s Henri at the Henrietta Hotel, offering an all-day menu of French classics like steak frites and Toulouse sausage. For a pre-show cocktail before watching Clueless the musical, Oriole is an excellent choice. Brought to life by the same team behind celebrated Bar Swift and Nightjar, it combines expertly crafted drinks inspired by different destinations with live music – be sure to try the Dalmatia for a fruity and floral concoction.
Craving something with a kick? The Barbary delivers with its bold, fire-cooked dishes – think chilli cauliflower and sea bream with cured lemon aioli. And if the weather’s playing ball, the Piazza Terrace at the Royal Opera House offers a delightful outdoor dining experience. For more inspiration, don’t miss our round-up of the best pre-theatre dining menus.