Last night I took a trip to Better Best Bargains via Stockton Globe for the opening night of Here & Now – The Steps Musical! 

Vibrant, energetic and packed with upbeat choreography, Here & Now tells a the story of friendships, making mistakes and figuring out what really matters in life – all perfectly soundtracked by iconic Steps bangers woven seamlessly into the narrative. The show is full of sparkle and pure 90s joy, it was a total feel-good evening! 

If you grew up in the 90s and were a fan of the band (or you’re still a fan!) then this show is an instant hit of nostalgia and you’ll love it. 

Watching the show and listening to the songs unlocked core memories for me. I found myself dancing the full routines in my seat, muscle memory kicking in as if I was 8 years old again watching my Steps video and learning the choreography at my Grandma’s house! 

The cast are fantastic – Lara Denning really shines in the role of Caz! The energy is infectious and honestly, there were moments where I was completely lost for words.

All I’ll say is that ‘Code Fabulous’ will cause a ‘Chain Reaction’ of screams, laughter…if you know, you know! 

The atmosphere was great and the crowd were so buzzing, especially when getting up to have a boogie at the end too. 

The nostalgia didn’t stop when the show did either. On the drive home we put Steps on and I couldn’t stop blabbering on to Adam about the band, random facts about their music videos, reminiscing about learning their dances as a child, and sharing stories I genuinely hadn’t thought about in years. That’s the magic of this show – it genuinely taps into such a warm, happy place and leaves you buzzing long after you’ve left the theatre.

Adam perfectly summed it up by describing the show as being ‘cheesier than bathing in a fondue’ and honestly, it’s so true! It’s joyful, unapologetically fun and completely embraces what it is, which is exactly why it works so well.

A huge thank you to the wonderful team at Stockton Globe for being such fabulous hosts as always, and for the festive canapés and goodies that made opening night feel extra special.

If you’re looking for a fun, feel-good night out filled with nostalgia, laughter and pop bangers, Here & Now is definitely for you this December. 

The show is 2 hours and 27 minutes, including the interval, and runs at Stockton Globe until the 28th December 2025. 

Tickets are available here. 

** Photos by Pamela Raith provided by Stockton Globe.