“A lively, music-filled show that celebrates Buddy Holly’s hits with great energy and atmosphere.”
I went to see Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story at The Lowry in the smaller Lyric theatre. I thought that space was perfect for this show because it gave the music such a good atmosphere. It felt more intimate and suited the energy of the band really well. At times it had the feel of a live gig rather than a big stage production, which I really enjoyed.
The show focuses much more on the music than the storyline, which worked for me. You go to hear Buddy Holly’s songs and there are plenty of them. The cast are actor-musicians, so they play their own instruments while singing and moving between different roles. That brings a lot of life and energy to the stage. When songs like That’ll Be the Day, Peggy Sue and Oh Boy came on, the whole audience seemed to lift. A few people were even moving along in their seats.
The overall feel of the night was fun and interactive. The cast really draw you in, and you can tell they are enjoying themselves too. It creates a bit of a party atmosphere, almost like you are part of the event rather than just watching it happen. The staging is simple but works really well, keeping the attention on the music where it belongs.
There were some moments where the show moved away from Buddy Holly and leaned into comedy and crowd interaction. Those sections definitely added some fun, but for me they sometimes lasted a little too long. I found myself waiting for them to return to the main set of songs. It didn’t spoil things, though, and lots of people in the audience seemed to enjoy those parts a lot.
The highlight was definitely the music. Hearing so many of Buddy Holly’s songs performed live with that much energy was brilliant. It also included other well-known tracks such as Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba and the Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace. Those added some variety and kept the pace high. By the time the cast performed Rave On, the atmosphere in the theatre was buzzing.
I liked the way the show closed. It ended with Buddy Holly’s final performance before his death at just 22. The moment is handled carefully. It makes you think about how young he was and how much he achieved, but the music quickly takes over again. You leave the theatre remembering the joy of his songs rather than only the sadness of the story.
Overall I thought it was a really enjoyable night. The cast are very talented, the staging is well thought out, and the smaller Lyric theatre gave it a great atmosphere. It is not heavy on storyline, but that is not the point. It is a celebration of Buddy Holly and rock and roll, and it absolutely delivers on that. The music is fantastic, the energy is high, and you leave feeling uplifted.
If you love Buddy Holly, or even just enjoy a night of classic songs performed live, this is definitely worth seeing.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly story runs at The Lowry until 27th September. Tickets are available here.