Virginia and I took a Richmonds coach day trip down to London to see Starlight Express at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre close to Wembley Stadium. Our friendly and helpful driver was Alan, our coach was modern equipped with USB charging points. Alan had plentiful screens showing areas around the bus. There were only three stops to pick up more people after we left Cambridge Trumpington Park and Ride. I was one of the few men on the coach. Alan seemed to know quite a few of our fellow day trippers, they must have been regular Richmonds customers.

Alan dished out cards with his mobile number on them as he dropped us off right by the theatre. The area by the theatre was a good spot to spend time before the show, plenty of eateries. Virginia and I patronised a Costa Coffee, I had a Sicilian lemon scone to keep me going. We had taken biscuits and sandwiches with us but perhaps we didn’t really need to. I also indulged in a hot apple from a nearby Macdonalds as we tried to use up the time.

We had over two hours to burn between being dropped off and when the show started. They have to allow for traffic being bad of course, but it was a long time. There is a semi-covered area by the theatre which was useful. Wembley Stadium itself might have provided a way of burning off some of those excess minutes.

The Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre has been appropriately customised for the show. The facilities were good and seemed able to cope with the 2000 the theatre could hold. The stage setup is modern using smart lighting and rising and rotating stage sections. It is designed to provide tracks for the energetic performers to roller skate around. People seemed to enjoy the show.

To me the music and libretto felt recycled and lacking. The story felt kindergarten but I believe children would be open to something more intelligent. The only things which stood out was the guys on scooters doing skate-boarding like tricks, looping the loop. Those were the gosh moments that I seek.

Alan got us back to Cambridge before the advertised time good for him.

Entrance to the venue

Inside the venue

The auditorium itself

The megamix finale