Evita

London Palladium

Playing until 6th September 2025

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Photo credit: Marc Brenner

Jamie Lloyd’s version of Evita throws out the rulebook and starts fresh. Instead of the usual glitz and glamour, it leans into something rough, loud, and stripped-back. This isn’t a show trying to charm the audience, it’s digging into ambition, power, and how people shape their own stories.

The set is simple - just lights, sound, and energy. At times, it feels more like a live gig than a musical, lacking key elements of providing the context to the story. Although the individual creative elements are exceptionally strong in this production of Evita, these could overshadow the narrative element of the show, which could across as slightly off putting in Act I.

However, the narrative and creativity better complement each to better convey the story in Act II. Eva Perón’s (Rachel Zegler) climb to fame and power is shown without the usual shine. She’s not painted as a hero or a victim, but as someone who’s determined and always in control. The videoed and projected rendition of ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ makes ingenious use of Zegler’s star power, which is guaranteed to gather a swarm of people outside of the theatre, creating a flawless scene as if Zegler is indeed addressing the people of the nation.

Zegler’s performance grabs your attention right away. Eva isn’t played as sweet or soft, she’s tough and magnetic. She speaks and sings right to the audience, daring us to judge her. You might not like her, but you’ll definitely want to watch her.

Che (Diego Andres Rodriguez) who tells the story, brings a sharp edge to the show. He’s not just there to explain things, he’s poking at the whole idea of fame and legacy. His scenes with Eva are tense and full of push-and-pull, which keeps everything feeling urgent and alive.

The music is rougher, more intense. The familiar songs are still there, but they hit differently. Instead of smooth ballads or big anthems, they’re gritty and sometimes chaotic. It’s clear this version wants to shake up how we hear and feel the music.

The way the cast moves, choreographed by Fabian Aloise on stage adds even more tension. The group becomes part of the story - like the voice of the crowd or the chaos of politics. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about creating pressure.

This version of Evita doesn’t try to make everything easy. It’s challenging, bold, and sometimes hard to watch - but that’s the point. It pushes the audience to think about how people gain influence and how we choose to remember them.

It’s not the same Evita that’s been seen today, but it feels right for today. It’s a strong show that sticks with you. It asks big questions and doesn’t settle for simple answers. Lloyd doesn’t just retell the story - he takes it apart and shows us the pieces.

Creatives

Lyrics: Tim Rice

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Director: Jamie Lloyd

Choreographer: Fabian Aloise

Set & Costume Designer: Soutra Gilmour

Musical Supervisor & Musical Director: Alan Williams

Lighting Designer: Jon Clark

Sound Designer: Adam Fisher