Ghost the Musical at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff – review

Thanks to Wales Millennium Centre for providing us with review tickets for the purpose of this review

The classic film Ghost gets the musical treatment in a new touring UK production currently at Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday. It’s such a beautifully executed show, filled with emotion, plenty of humour, fantastic performances and clever scenery.

I took my 13 year old to last night’s press performance, intrigued to see what he’d make of the musical version of one of the biggest films from when his parents were his age, a film he knew very little about.

I know lots of you reading this will remember just what a cultural phenomenon Ghost was way back in 1990. In fact, it was the highest grossing film of the year, winning an Oscar for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin. Who could forget the late Patrick Swayze as Sam, killed in a street robbery and trying to connect with his love Molly, played by Demi Moore, to tell her she’s in danger, through the phony psychic Oda Mae Brown, brilliantly portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg? Not to mention that pottery scene and The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody, which topped the UK charts for four weeks.

Premiered in 2011, Bruce Joel Rubin adapted the screenplay for Ghost the Musical, so it’s pretty true to the film. Unchained Melody appears throughout of course, alongside a score of original music written by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame and Grammy award-winner Glen Ballard.

Rebekah Lowings as Molly brought me to tears several times, in particular with her powerful musical number With You, which showcased her brilliant vocal range and so many different emotions, love, anger, frustration, confusion and more as she tries to process Sam’s death. Definitely one of the show’s stand out moments.

Josh St Clair has such a great stage presence as Sam, his frustration that no one can see him palpable as he desperately tries to save Molly.

James Mateo-Salt is Carl, Sam’s good friend who isn’t all that he seems, while Jacqui Dubois is brilliant as Oda Mae Brown. She’s perfect in this fantastically over-the-top part with so many laugh-out-loud one-liners and comedy moments. The humour definitely balances out the darker moments.

The rest of the cast play a range of characters, from office workers and police officers to various ghosts, as well as filling the stage for the ensemble musical numbers. We especially liked Tim Maxwell-Clarke as the Hospital Ghost and Garry Lee as the angry and violent Subway Ghost who reluctantly helps Sam hone his supernatural powers. Without giving anything away, all the scenes around the subway are so brilliantly executed. Likewise, the moments when Sam and other characters leave their body and become ghosts are also cleverly staged.

The age guidance is 8+ but I think this would depend on the individual child as there’s (obviously) a lot of death, some violence, a bit of swearing, and a very sensual scene where sex is implied. I would say 11+ is more appropriate.
My 13 year old thought it was brilliant, he knew very little of the story going into the theatre but said for an ‘old’ story it’s still so relevant and really clever with all the ghosts. And as for me? Well, I’ve just about dried my eyes! As a fan of the film, I was pleased at how familiar the stage version felt, with the musical numbers adding a new depth, and loved revisiting these brilliant characters and classic story in a new way.

Lots of you have told me through my Stories that you’re seeing Ghost this week. You’re in for a real treat. And if you haven’t yet booked, there are still tickets available – just don’t forget your tissues.

Ghost the Musical is at Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday 8 March. Tickets from £18.50, with availability for most performances. Age guidance is 8+ with no admittance to under 2s. Running time 2 hours and 35 minutes, including interval. Book online here. https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2025/ghost-the-musical

Production photos by Alastair Muir