Anything Goes Review: open-air revival brings a splash of class to Kilworth
- Jack Davey
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 2
25 June 2026 I 19:30 I Kilworth House Theatre, Leicestershire
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I PR - Invite
On Thursday, I was invited to a special preview performance for Kilworth House Theatre's summer production of Anything Goes. And in the height of the British heatwave, you feel the wind in your hair as if you're on the S.S. American, joining the cast for a nautical, open-air night of refinement.
The venue itself is a fan-favourite, once you discover it you'll want to go every year! The grounds of Kilworth House really are beautiful. Understandably, booking ahead for outdoor theatre can be risky. However for those unsure, the seating area is fully covered overhead and sheltered from most of the elements.
I attended Kilworth's last production of Grease, which wasn't a success for me due to its overly dated material, not helped by an all-white cast. So it certainly elevates Anything Goes to see that casting director Sarah Goggin has embraced this public feedback to feature more racial diversity. For a show that debuted in 1934, it allows it to feel more current, while also expanding an incredible breadth of talent and representation that audiences can resonate with.
The narrative is quite Shakespearean, boasting a large cast, con-men in a multitude of disguises, and love triangles galore. At the helm is the charismatic nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Emily-Mae) whose charm knows no bounds. Emily-Mae is a confident lead through showtunes and immensely watchable, sharing vivid chemistry with all of her scene partners. Especially in Friendship alongside Dougie Carter's Moonface Martin, whose second-rate gangster is lovably eccentric, shining with cartoonish comedy.
The production is highly enjoyable as an ensemble piece, with such a well-rounded line-up. When the cast first enter in Bon Voyage, we can truly delight in Philip Witcomb's costume design, which distinctly defines the social groups of the ship. From the burly sailors to the lavish Evangeline Harcourt, played with thrilling melodrama by Penelope Woodman.
Anything Goes prides itself on its grand-scale musical numbers, and the title song that closes Act One must be one of the most exhilarating pieces of choreography that the Kilworth stage has seen. Lee Proud devises tap sequences that are almost hypnotic in their shaping, and the cast do a mighty job with these, promising a unified and crisp sound. I could watch these dance routines for hours and hours!
The multiple love arcs are gentle and amusing, if at times slightly nonsensical. The most earnest comes from Billy (Richard Carson) and Hope (Megan Gardiner), who ooze romance together and deliver top-class solos. The trajectory of Evelyn (Tom Hopcroft) and Reno's relationship is less believable in its bizarreness. While Hopcroft's energy is commendable, his Act Two matador-style number The Gypsy In Me is lyrically distasteful in its stereotyping of Romani people.
The second act is much shorter than the first, where resolutions come to a head with remarkable speed. That being said, the pacing of the musical, particularly Act One, is handled with great professionalism. The momentum is fast as scenes overlap one another; there is never a moment of stillness. And knockout performances, including those of Sophie Naglik's Erma, help to keep the showbiz alive.
Bringing Leicestershire audiences back to the Golden Age, Kilworth House Theatre positively suits this era of richness and splendour. Directed by Lee Proud, Cole Porter's Anything Goes offers a delightful affair of light entertainment that encourages you to forget your troubles, and revel in grand musical talent. Complete with a divine twelve-piece band (led by Rick Coates) and brimming with West End and international touring stars, we have another glorious summer hit on our hands!
Booking until 2nd August. Kilworth House Theatre Information & Tickets: https://www.kilworthhouse.co.uk/kilworth-house-theatre/
