KIMBERLY AKIMBO
Hampstead Theatre
★★★
“a polished, enjoyable production with plenty of charm”
After a multiple Tony award-winning Broadway run, ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ arrives in the UK. Though brimming with heart and hope, it never quite finds the edge it needs to resonate deeply.
Kimberly is running out of time. Born with a rare condition and ageing four times faster, Kimberly hatches an unlikely plan to make her dreams come true.
With a Tony-winning book and lyrics from David Lindsay-Abaire, ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ blends an offbeat coming-of-age story with a poignant bucket-list tale. Kimberly’s impending mortality – tragically on the cusp of adulthood – gives the story emotional weight, while her spectacularly dysfunctional family justifies her quest for autonomy. Yet despite a cast of flawed, often unlikeable characters, it rarely mines enough grit to offset its rather relentless optimism. The cheque-fraud strand feels oddly consequence-free, sidestepping the real stakes of Debra’s scheme, while Kimberly’s condition – inspired by a very real condition called progeria – is treated more as a narrative device than a lived experience. Overall, teen angst and premature mortality make for a compelling setup, but the emotional payoff falls short.
Jeanine Tesori’s score is consistently inventive. The conversational, quirky ‘Hello Darling’ offers an insightful glimpse into Pattie’s psyche, while ‘How to Wash a Check’ turns criminal activity into comic chaos through the teenage gang’s ineptitude. The finale, ‘Great Adventure’, lands with real poignancy, shifting between major and minor chords as it captures hope and heartbreak. Not every song may stick in the memory, but together they form a distinctive and effective whole.
Director Michael Longhurst makes impressive use of a relatively small cast, with inventive staging and a versatile revolving set conjuring multiple locations with ease. The transitions are slick, the pacing brisk, and the characters feel well rounded. Again, the sweetness could use more bite to sharpen its emotional impact, and some relationships feel a little lightly drawn. The central romance may also raise eyebrows given the actors’ age gap. Still, it’s a polished, enjoyable production with plenty of charm.
Soutra Gilmour’s design is a triumph, centred on an ingenious multi-level set that effortlessly shifts locations while incorporating lighting and projection surfaces. Jack Knowles’s lighting adds flair and focus to key moments, while Paul Groothuis’s sound design is atmospheric if occasionally overpowering the vocals. Luke Halls’ video design delivers a poignant glimpse of the life Kimberly fights to experience.
Multi-Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman captures Kimberly’s youthful optimism and insecurity with real sincerity. While there is room for greater emotional contrast in places, she remains in fine voice, delivering every song with warmth and honesty. Alice Fearn’s deadpan Debra cuts through the sweetness at just the right moments, providing the perfect counterpoint to Friedman. Peter Hannah and Niamh Perry as Buddy and Pattie Levaco expertly portray flawed parents whose love is buried beneath years of baggage. Gilli Jones brings both sweetness and resolve to Seth, making his connection with Kimberly wholly convincing. Meanwhile, Sara Hajizadeh, Ronav Jain, Robin Simões da Silva and Aviva Tulley form a superb teen quartet, their impeccable harmonies and comic chemistry providing some great highlights.
‘Kimberly Akimbo’ may be more charming than profound, but its warmth, wit and strong performances make the adventure worthwhile.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO
Hampstead Theatre
Reviewed on 24th September 2026
by Hannah Bothelton
Photography by Marc Brenner
