Worth £340 or OVERHYPED? Sunset Boulevard Review (2023 Savoy Theatre London)

I got a last minute ticket to SUNSET BLVD here on the West End in 2023… but did it live up to the hype?

From the Sunset Blvd West End website:
NICOLE SCHERZINGER stars as the immortal Norma Desmond in ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’s legendary SUNSET BOULEVARD.

This thrillingly atmospheric musical, which features an iconic score including the songs With One Look, The Perfect Year and As If We Never Said Goodbye, is reimagined by visionary director JAMIE LLOYD for a new generation.

Haunted by her memories and dreams, movie star Norma Desmond (Scherzinger) yearns to return to the big screen. A struggling screenwriter who can’t sell his scripts to the Hollywood studios may be her only hope, until their dangerous and compelling relationship leads to disastrous circumstances.

Drenched in champagne and cynicism, SUNSET BOULEVARD scrutinizes the ambitions and frustrations of its characters and their intoxicating need for fame and adoration.

Rachel Tucker guest stars as Norma Desmond every Monday from 16 October until the end of the run.

The Jamie Lloyd Company’s SUNSET BOULEVARD arrives at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End for a limited 16-week run from September 2023.

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[teena]

Best show I've ever seen . Saw it twice, i cant get it out of my mind. Seen it twice before with Glenn close but this version I thought was the best . Nicole and all the cast just absolutely brilliant . Loved every minute of it .Definitely 5 stars from me.

[keeleywickham]

The reason you don’t feel emotional is because of the alienation effect … when something keeps reminding you it is a piece of theatre not reality your brain goes to a different place. Pure Brecht! Instead I felt it was a brave and angry meditation on the aging process for women and how we are all in the end somebody’s fool. And I was in the stalls and heard every word!

[Muswell]

It didn't need a big set, the whole production relies on the phenomenal performances of the cast & that powerful music.

[MissPerriwinkle]

her reputation as a huge grouch spoils it for was fabulous !

[Muswell]

Patti LuPone & Glenn Close were in their 40s when they played Norma.

[minirth.maggie]

I love your thoughtful reviews. It's a wonderful glimpse into the London theater scene! I'm American and I've seen several stores on tour, none on Broadway.

[TheSilencedKill]

I saw it twice in the west end starring Betty Buckley in the It was wonderful and BB was incedible as Norme. Saw it again a few weeks later... But, it was BB'S stand in... Just as wonderful...

[atuljoshi]

i felt the same way with sunset and merrily. after a few months having seen them - I am curious to resee (using lottery) Merrily - but I will see Sunset when it comes to NY this year - and my memory of it has really grown - I think I may love it in retrospect as it expanded my mind....but I was more perplexed when I had just seen it. Tom definitely the star - didn't realize that at first. my memory of it and the reason it is growing on me was the quick and growing noir sensibility and the driving beat that pushed the viewer and the narrative on...quite remarkable.

[acuison]

I think Nicole is underrated. She is actually amazing, as much as I never used to admit it. I've never been a fan, partly because she was always on the "pop" side of music. She, however, was actually classically trained in theater. As I read some of the comments, particularly those who do not approve of her performance, I know where you're comming from. She is not your "traditional" theater performer. Unfortunately, that prevents you from just enjoying it. Throughout the years, I've actually come to appreciate her performances. I still consider myself a theater traditionalist, but I am a bit more open-minded in seeing "pop" celebrities crossover to theater. I still cannot forgive them putting Nick Jonas as Marius at the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables, but Nicole in Sunset Boulevard works for me. It's not, and she's not, everyone's cup of tea.

[xonvaldez]

Gloria Swanson was 50 years old when she played Norma Desmond in the 1950 Bill Wilder “Sunset Boulevard” movie. She was made up to look older. Nicole Scherzinger is 45 years old…sad to say is considered old by Hollywood standards. I can’t wait for the Broadway transfer!!!

[andyanderson]

Of the many many things that went up in price since the pandemic, a theatre ticket is massively inflated. School kids can't afford to buy those tickets.

[richardbocanegra]

I saw the original show, opening night with Glenn Close in Century City.. unbelievable 🎉. As time went on, after listening to the cd, I realized that I did not care for the Andrew Lloyd Webber music. Thank you for your review, you are a very good and entertaining reviewer..

[Muswell]

I was 2nd row circle & heard every word.

[TheMrdominator]

£340 lol, prior to Christmas it was easy to get seats

[jammzz.]

This show was great, but what was even better was when you help me and my mates get high rounds on revelataions

[andrewstorm]

Nicole was amazing, best performance in West-end in 2023. Note the diction issue, but the music was great, real depth. The story itself was pretty weak, so wasn't moved, it felt soulless, but cast was strong.

[emhu]

I saw Rachel Tucker and she was amazing. Some of the acting was kind of bizarre and a few cringe moments, but the singing and performances were so good. Love the music. the casting was great. Wish I had seen nicole, maybe there will be a bootleg because i am absolutely not going to nyc to see it.

[spanishloverfun]

IT was terrible and way too overhyped. Basically the Emperor‘s new clothes. There was practically no acting in as most lines were said to the audience. If I’m going to pay that type of price for a ticket I want value for money. The whole thing was filled with a lack of imagination and cheapness disguised as (deluded) cutting edge and modern. No! It was just a way of doing everything on the cheap. Costumes? What costumes! It was like the director said to the cast members “Go home and bring any of your own clothes that are black or dark grey to the dress rehearsal tomorrow because that’s what you will be wearing for the entire run.” You couldn’t pay me to go to see it again. If anything, I came out of the theatre angry that I had wasted so much money on a ticket to watch what looked and felt like a student production from one of the Drama Schools. The only saving grace of the whole thing was the vocals of Nicole Scherzinger. If it wasn’t for her singing, I would’ve left the theatre in the interval like the couple behind me did. Don’t waste your money when it appears on Broadway.


The opening scene was embarrassingly laughable. A woman sat behind me said to her husband “If this nonsense continues for another five minutes I’m leaving.” After the interval the two seats behind me remained empty. That’s how bad that couple thought it was.

[filmsociety]

Its an ATG theatre. I have an ATG card and access membership. I paid £25 😂

[jjphoenix]

The ORIGINAL musical is an absolute masterpiece. That pathetic version doesn't worth a penny!