The musical continues to play at the Southwark Playhouse until the 10th January 2026.
London theatre.co.uk: **** “This collaboration between Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell emerges out of comparative left field as one of the giddiest delights of the year, served up in a deftly pitched production from the English director-choreographer Lizzie Gee that finds both joy and emotion in what might otherwise be merely weird.”
The Guardian: *** “After a while, the structure begins to feel formulaic. With each character given only a fleeting moment in the limelight, there’s little time to truly get beneath their skin. Still, it’s easy to see why the show has picked up such a dedicated fanbase over the years. This is a genuinely unique musical and, with a few tweaks, it could soar.”
WhatsOnStage: ***** “Number after number raises the roof: a great musical features that special moment when it lifts off the ground, taking the ecstatic audience with it… Well, Ride the Cyclone has at least half a dozen.”
Theatre & Tonic: ***** “The hard-working cast appear together in every number, displaying the versatility of the actors who are all impressive dancers and vocalists. The set is simple, and the central revolve works well, with a fairground-style curtain used to great effect. The use of props was both imaginative and fun, from umbrellas, clouds, coffins and even miniature houses which decrease in size to give to impression of the characters soaring out of the coaster. Jacob Richmond and Brook Maxwell’s dark and funny script, songs and lyrics allow each performer to showcase their immense talents and draw you into the story from the outset. I cannot recall a show where I have said ‘wow’ so many times! This is 90 minutes of spectacular theatre, with songs in some different styles and as many twists and turns as a real rollercoaster.”
All That Dazzles: **** “Ride The Cyclone is what a musical should be. Dangerous and exciting, yet comforting and satisfying. It may not be to everyone’s tastes, but to this reviewer, I discovered a new favourite, finding myself completely swept up in the show. It may not be completely perfect, but that is all part of its charm. For the most part, this show is impossible to fault – refreshingly weird, it really is a thrilling ride from start to finish.”
The Stage: ** “Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell’s Canadian cult musical shoots for profundity – and misses.”
Theatre Weekly: **** “Gee’s direction strikes a delicate balance between irreverence and sincerity. While the book occasionally sags, the pacing remains taut, and the emotional beats land without sentimentality.”
London Theatre 1: **** “There’s a consistent reliance on a demonstration of how abnormal each of the characters are, which makes for bemusing, if not exactly amusing, theatre. In the end, though, it held my attention throughout. Strangely delightful and beautifully devoid of sentimentality, it’s a baffling yet boisterous production.”
London Theatre Reviews.co.uk: ** 1/2 “Overall, Ride the Cyclone is a unique and daring musical with plenty of personality. Even if it didn’t fully work for me, I can see why it has a cult following. It’s inventive, unusual, and filled with creative flair — just be prepared for a ride that’s less about a tight story and more about a series of character snapshots set inside a wild, colourful world.”
The Reviews Hub: *** “Ride the Cyclone is a lot of fun, packed with great ideas and hosted by a suitably animatronic Karnak played by Edward Wu (think the Zoltar fortune-telling machine from Big), but having set out to take the audience on the ride of their life, it doesn’t quite make it to the end of the tracks.”
Broadway World: ***** “Ultimately, Ride The Cyclone is truly a rollercoaster of a theatrical experience, with audiences laughing one minute and crying the next. The cast and creative team have brought the show to new heights, using every inch of Southwark Playhouse Elephant to their advantage. It was certainly worth the wait!”
Time Out: **** “Ride the Cyclone is, of course, about one thing: being alive. So naturally, even in death, these characters are scrambling for meaning, connection, and redemption — a delightful and devastating paradox that might not be especially nuanced, but is undeniably fun to watch.”
West End Best Friend: **** “It’s easy to see why Ride the Cyclone has achieved cult-classic status. Sharply witty, unexpectedly moving and completely bonkers, this run is absolutely worth catching.”
The Upcoming: **** “While not straightforward as a meditation on life and death, Ride the Cyclone is exceptionally creative in its particular premise. The musical is a great choice for anyone seeking a unique and entertaining story that will leave them laughing.”
The Spy in the Stalls: **** “It is a thrilling ride, one which has that sense of danger even though you want to laugh out loud, right up to its upbeat finale. You come away feeling slightly giddy, but feeling good. Against all better judgement you find yourself wanting to join the queue again for another go.”
The Standard: **** “The characterisations are brash and cartoonish, the choreography engagingly scrappy and the singing voices strong across the board. And despite the studied loucheness and acid put-downs of the script – not to mention Karnak’s rebuke to Grace that not every story has a lesson – the show has a surprisingly mushy message: that we should be ourselves and enjoy life, which is, after all, “just a ride”.”
To book tickets visit: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/ride-the-cyclone/