Reception: The Wedding Present Musical, written and directed by Matt Aston, premiered at The Warehouse in Holbeck, by Perfect Blue Productions as part of a limited run from 22 August to 6 September.
It’s a heartfelt, emotionally charged musical rooted in the early days of The Wedding Present,
celebrating the band’s 40th anniversary through a fictional story of university friends navigating love, loss and life events in 1980s Leeds.
As the evening’s guests gathered in anticipation of curtains opening, it really did set the perfect scene… waiting for the reception of a wedding – that mid point where people are mingling.
As guests take their seats, a perfectly curated set list of 80s indie classics fills the lulls in overheard conversations. There’s a photograph capturing the guests’ candid moments, just as they would at a wedding. It chimes seamlessly with the show’s initial tone.
Five members of the ensemble take to the floor. We’re not quite sure if they are members of the cast or staff at the venue with cleverly picked costumes. These subtle staging choices reflect a sense of togetherness between cast and audience. As the live band take their seats, subtly to the corners of the stage, the show starts to come together.
As Act 1 unfolds, it’s apparent we are on a time-traveling journey with the Leeds students from the sunny summer days of university life (circa 1985) to deeply personal moments. The set features songs like My Favourite Dress, Kennedy, Brassneck, and Go Out and Get ’Em Boy. They’ve been reimagined in new, emotionally resonant arrangements.
The core set is a wedding dance floor that transforms fluidly throughout the performance. Projections of bedrooms and student haunts in a comic strip style overlay the reception backdrop. It creates a seamless journey from private memories to public milestones. This clever use of visuals grounds the story in its 1980s Leeds setting, while allowing the action to shift quickly in time. The set design could not have been better.
The story follows a tight-knit group of university friends whose relationships evolve in often messy, human ways. At the heart of it is Rachel, played by Leeds Conservatoire graduate Zoe Allan. Rachel is navigating grief over her mother’s passing and a fractured relationship with her boyfriend, Harry (Lawrence Hodgson Mullings), who is imminently moving to Seattle. Her character becomes a lens through which the audience experiences love lost, love found and the pull of friendship during formative years.
The story takes us through Harry’s planned move to Seattle to Joe (Zach Burns) and Jane’s (Hannah Nuttall) stag/hen chaos in Brighton, and the charged connection between Rachel and John (Richard Lounds). The dynamics are layered and relatable.
Through recurring references, the power of female friendship and the enduring nature of youthful bonds is superbly reflected. It invites the audience to consider where their own university-era connections have led them and how friendships evolve over time. This paired perfectly with the band as their playful, sometimes bittersweet, lyrics propel the narrative, exploring themes of ambition and heartbreak to the inevitability of change.
A personal favourite of the night was the nods to contemporary politics, including a running joke about Keir Starmer, who studied at Leeds University during the time. The show maintains a playful local character that resonates with its home city audience.
As Act 1 closes, the tangled web of relationships feels far from resolved. Rachel stands between past and present loves, friendships show cracks beneath the surface and the wedding backdrop that frames it all now hints at something less celebratory, more uncertain.
Act 2 opens with a striking tonal shift. The lively, indie rock energy gives way to a sombre piano ballad as the group faces the aftermath of their choices. The scene begins with a funeral, but it isn’t at once clear whose it is. This creates an initial sense of confusion that lingers until later revelations. Some viewers seemed to question whether Joe, Rachel’s brother, or another central figure had died. This lack of distinction, whether a deliberate narrative device or a moment of muddled storytelling, creates a momentary disconnect.
From here, the act explores themes of grief, fractured trust and the cost of love that was never fully realised. Rachel and Harry share tense and reflective moments that hint at a reconnection. References are made to Rachel’s upcoming wedding, though the narrative teases out who she is truly aligned with, allowing the audience to sit with their own expectations of a “rom com” resolution.
The wedding set begins to form onstage, bathed in blue hues a visual choice symbolising both sorrow and the traditional “something blue.” This quiet build-up contrasts with the explosive revelations to come.
The wedding set begins to form onstage, bathed in blue hues a visual choice symbolising both sorrow and the traditional “something blue.” This quiet build-up contrasts with the explosive revelations to come.
Estrella (Rebecca Levy), always the unpredictable force, (think ‘weird Barbie’ in the Barbie film) becomes central to the turning point. Her filmed footage exposes much.
This revelation catalyses a dramatic unraveling. The ensemble’s movements become sharper, the lighting shifts to red and the tension between John, Harry and the rest of the group peaks in confrontation. Allegiances fracture as Sally (Amara Latchford) and Joe tentatively rekindle, while Harry and Rachel face their unresolved feelings head-on.
The play closes with the wedding reception – more of an ending than a climax, where the title finally finds its place. Friends gather, truths are laid bare but, rather than tying each thread neatly, the musical opts for something more bittersweet.
Life goes on. Not all love stories are meant to be and growth often means letting go.
Ensemble
Eleanor Doran
Lily Pryce
Imani Hassan-Smith
Caitlin Cole
Charlotte Rose O’Sullivan (Dance Captain)
Performance Details and Tickets:
Venue: The Warehouse in Holbeck (Slung Low), Leeds
Dates: Friday 22 August – Saturday 6 September 2025
Tickets from £16.90 here.
Wedding Guest table packages also available
Photography by Northedge Photograph
