Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday August 30th

***** still as fresh as the fifties”

Seen by over 22.5 million people worldwide.

This sensational multi award-winning West End show first opened in 1989 and has been thrilling audiences around the world ever since. Now it visits the Hippodrome Birmingham as part of its 2025/26 UK Tour.

Forget feel good, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is FEEL GREAT! Experience the drama, passion, and excitement as a multi-talented cast of actor-musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his Texas rockabilly beginnings to international stardom and his legendary final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic death at the age of just 22.

The songs are performed brilliantly by AJ Jenks who plays Buddy supported by the Crickets  and equally the Big Bopper played by Joshua Barton and Ritchie Valence played by Miguel Angel are all great and they all make the audience seem part of that legendary concert at the Surf Ballroom ( the night before the music died.  )

The story of how Buddy Holly rose to fame is told well, but it is the music that is the winner over thirty songs performed superbly by all the actors and the audience just loved them.

A great as well set transporting us back to the 1950 s and I thoroughly recommend this show still as fresh as when it began back in 1989.

It is on until Saturday in Birmingham but then touring around the UK into next year, catch it if you can have a great evening.

Stephen Johns

David will feature the review in the forthcoming magazine and on his radio show

Five Stars