The Tony-nominated cult classic from the makers of Hairspray makes its all-singing, all-dancing UK-premiere at Arcola Theatre.
It’s 1954. Everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism and Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore. He’s a bad boy with a good cause – truth, justice and the pursuit of rock and roll.
Enter Allison, a strait-laced rich girl who trades her “Square” boyfriend, Baldwin, for the irresistible allure of Cry-Baby and his misfit crew, the Drapes. As rivalries intensify and hearts break, the city is turned upside-down in a rollicking tale of forbidden love and teen rebellion.
With infectious rockabilly hits like “The Anti-Polio Picnic” and “Girl, Can I Kiss You with Tongue,” Cry-Baby is a politically charged, laugh-out-loud cult classic. Described as “Romeo and Juliet” meets High School Hellcats”, this subversive musical directed by Mehmet Ergen, Artistic Director of Arcola Theatre, promises a toe-tapping, boundary-breaking good time.
Get ready for a wild ride—Cry-Baby is here to steal your heart!
★★★★★ “"a deliciously satirical creation: dark, silly and utterly delightful... a firecracker of a show"” – The Guardian
★★★★★ “Feel-good is the understatement of the year where this show is concerned... two hours of star-spangled fun. You’d be a cry-baby to miss it.” – Spy in the Stalls
“Winner of Offies Assessors' Choice Award” – Offies
★★★★★ “This is bright, loud, fast-moving and very funny show” – Plays to See Magazine
★★★★★ “The stellar direction, stunning costumes (Defne Özdogan), vibrant performances, and infectious energy make it a stand out experience—one that speaks to both the past and the present in ways that are impossible to ignore. Don’t miss it!” – HarryTheatreLife
★★★★★ “I'd give it all the stars on the flag if I could” – Curtain Call Reviews
★★★★★ “Satirical and silly, this musical embraces its own ridiculousness, delivering a hilarious and fun-filled evening.” – Everything Theatre
★★★★½ “—musically infectious, narratively relevant, inventively staged, and very, very funny... This should be a show that runs and runs, but as it stands, it’s only on until mid-April, so see it while you can.” – The Reviews Hub
★★★★ “Gloriously trashy in the best way” – The Evening Standard
★★★★ “It’s a spicy brew, served up as comedy, and is often helplessly, macabrely funny” – ajhloves theatre
★★★★ “This may well be your new favourite musical” – All The Dazzles
★★★★ “laugh-out-loud, entertaining night out!” – Stage To Page
★★★★ “A vibrant and subversive musical” – Theatre Weekly
★★★★ “Fun-fuelled & delightfully demented... deserves a transfer and needs to be seen” – Ovation Radio
★★★★ “A high-energy, hilarious, and heartwarming production” – Stage Masters
★★★★ “It’s not every day that I leave a theatre, get home, and immediately book another ticket to see the show again” – Unmissable Theatre
★★★★ “It’s an immensely fun musical, and director Mehmet Ergen’s production ignites it with kilowatts of energy, supported by a truly electric cast.” – Operation Live Theatre
★★★★ “Big, brash, bold and very silly... This show doesn’t come round all too often so take the chance to catch it while you can.” – West End Best Friend
★★★★ “The most gloriously trashy and ridiculously brilliant theatre experience you’ll stumble upon this year.” – A Youngish Perspective
★★★★ “You may well see the underlying political point as satire, but if I were you, I’d get myself down to 1954 Baltimore (well 2025 Dalston) and just enjoy the sheer joyfulness of a fun-filled musical” – London Theatre1
★★★★ “Cry-Baby The Musical is not just a revival of a cult classic, but a high-energy production full of laughter, dancing, and unforgettable performances that won’t be easily forgotten.” – Theatre & Tonic
★★★★ – Reviews Gate
“Bold and brash” – The Telegraph
“a kitschy delight... At a time when fringe musicals are much rarer than they were a decade or so ago, seeing a young cast able to go full-out in an intimate space is a pleasure” – What's On Stage
“One of the most exciting casts I've seen in a while... a subversive musical theatre treat.. I can't wait to go back” – Theatre Fan Official
“must see show - A cult classic, Ergen and his team have blown its doors off and this riot of a musical can break out here too.” – Fringe Review
