Review: Hamilton, Sunderland Empire
A touring production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical masterpiece has arrived - and the cast are clearly not gonna waste their shot. *Spoiler* I've already booked to see it again
The long-anticipated arrival of Hamilton at Sunderland Empire has delivered everything fans could have hoped for - a slick, stylish and emotionally charged production that confirms why Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical is considered one of the most important - and absolutely banging works - in modern theatre.
For those unfamiliar with the story (which would have been millions more of us before this show took its first curtain call off-Broadway in 2015), Hamilton chronicles the life of its namesake, Alexander Hamilton, an ambitious immigrant from the Caribbean (aka a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman) who rose to become one of America’s Founding Fathers.
From his pivotal role in the Revolution to the personal scandals that threatened to destroy him, Hamilton’s life is told through a richly layered mix of hip-hop, R&B, jazz and classic musical theatre. The show explores ambition, legacy, rivalry and forgiveness - and does so with a pace and confidence that never lets up.
Simply put, it’s relentlessly brilliant.
Winner of 11 Tonys, seven Oliviers, a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy, Hamilton has more than earned its reputation and awards cabinet. Under Thomas Kail’s endlessly inventive direction and Andy Blankenbuehler’s dazzling choreography, Cameron Mackintosh’s touring production captures all the flair and fire that made the original a global phenomenon.
The action flows in a seamless tapestry of song, rap, dance, comedy and drama - so polished and engaging that the near three-hour run time flies by.
The score is famously full of fast-paced rap, but it’s also rich with variation. From the hilarious camp of You’ll Be Back, sung by a petulant King George III, to the heartfelt ballads Burn, Dear Theodosia and It’s Quiet Uptown, the show balances spectacle with sincerity.
The cast is superb across the board. Marley Fenton is outstanding as Alexander Hamilton, capturing his brilliance and flaws with a compelling mix of intensity, charm and on-point vocal delivery. Whether spitting fire in My Shot or bringing tenderness to the aforementioned It’s Quiet Uptown, Fenton commands the stage with the kind of confidence his character would be proud of.
With an incredible stage presence, Billy Nevers is equally impressive as Hamilton’s ambitious and calculating rival, Aaron Burr - measured, watchful, and quietly simmering until his show-stopping The Room Where It Happens (which I reckon will be the nickname for the Empire’s main auditorium for the next five weeks).
Casey Al-Shaqsy brings both strength and vulnerability to Eliza Hamilton, particularly in her moving performance of musical audition favourite, Burn. Her serenity is beautifully counterbalanced by Chasity Crisp’s sharp, worldly-wise Angelica, whose powerhouse vocals in Satisfied offer a stand out moment - which is no mean feat in this show.
And then there’s Louis Maskell’s King George - a cast iron riot of camp, sarcasm and comic timing. Every appearance brought laughter, with his exaggerated expressions and perfectly judged pacing adding much-needed relief amid the emotional and political turmoil.
The set design and choreography will be familiar to anyone who’s seen the West End production or Disney+ film, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. The rotating stage is used to great effect, and the ensemble keeps everything moving with sharp, energised precision.
Hamilton’s thrilling and banger-filled soundtrack is matched by a production that’s as inventive as it is emotionally resonant. But beyond the technical mastery lies an unbelievably untold story with real substance - a gripping exploration of ambition, power, legacy, love and betrayal.
It’s this combination of musical ingenuity and thematic depth that makes Hamilton not just a theatrical triumph, but a genuinely moving and relevant piece of storytelling.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a ticket, don’t wait. This is one of the most exciting shows to land in the North East in years… I reckon I might go weekly.
Hamilton is at Sunderland Empire until July 26. Tickets from the website