Continuing to ride on the waves of ’80s nostalgia, the original The Karate Kid movie released in 1984 has added yet another media format to it’s metaphorical belt, this time telling the story through the medium of a musical, so aptly named The Karate Kid – The Musical. To date, this one film has spawned itself into a long running franchise, taking on new life in the form of sequels, revamp films, a YouTube pilot series, and most recently a successful Netflix spin off series named Cobra Kai, which also included a number of original cast members reprising their roles.

In this iteration, fans of the beloved film will find all the moves they know and love. Daniel, played heroically by Gino Ochello, is still the underdog worth rooting for, Joe Simmons as Johnny remains gloriously punchable, with Adrian Pang as the quietly unassuming karate master Mr Miyagi. Characters like Daniel’s mum Lucille, the girl at the centre of the rivalry Ali Mills, the head of rival dojo Cobrai Kai John Kreese, and Daniel’s right hand pal Freddie Fernandez also step into the spotlight with their own dedicated songs and sequences which adds depth, colour and action to the original story. Each lead has an impressive voice that could easily be found on a west end stage which the setlist completely lends itself to, with music and lyrics written by Drew Gasparini. With so many characters getting their own song or two however, this does stretch the run time which can feel like momentum slows at points, but never falters.

The production wisely never sweeps the heart of the original out from under its feet. Instead, it keeps its balance, honouring the film while confidently stepping onto its own stage giving each character their time to shine. With a simple stage that uses projections as part of it’s arsenal, the choreography is, unsurprisingly, the show’s secret weapon. Every fight sequence is slick, dynamic and satisfyingly theatrical, blending martial arts with dance in a way that feels fresh rather than gimmicky. Kudos has to be given to the ensemble who throw themselves into every scene with impressive commitment. It is particularly enjoyable to see them perform both as characters and as “energy” driving movements forward.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or stepping onto the mat for the first time, The Karate Kid – The Musical lands more hits than misses. It is one for the family and for those looking for their nostalgic kicks.

The Karate Kid – The Musical has ended its run