Last night, as the drizzle gently fell on the West End pavements, I walked out of the Adelphi Theatre feeling spellbound, uplifted, and wrapped in a soft haze of theatrical magic. Speakeasy, the new dance production by Strictly Come Dancing stars Karen Hauer and Gorka Márquez, is more than a dance show – it’s an intoxicating time-travelling journey through the rhythms, moves, and moods of the 20th century.
Having had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Hauer ahead of the tour for the London Mums Magazine winter print edition, I knew this would be special. But Speakeasy exceeded every expectation — a rare blend of artistic storytelling, technical mastery, live music brilliance, and good old-fashioned charm.
Read the interview here
From the moment the curtain rose, the audience was swept into a dazzling, underground world of 1920s prohibition – Charleston beats, gangster silhouettes, and feathered flapper glamour. Karen had told me, “The Charleston, one of my favourite styles, plays a big part. The characterisation, the old-school poster, and the flapper-era costumes are all very exciting.” She wasn’t wrong. The opening number, A Gangster’s Paradise, was a riot of swing, sass, and synchronised perfection.
What followed was a seamless excursion through time. Each decade brought its own flavour – from the sultry swing of the 1930s (Puttin’ on the Ritz, Grace Kelly) to the wartime burlesque of the 1940s (Hit the Road Jack, Cabaret Medley), then on to the electrifying rock ‘n’ roll of the 1950s (Jailhouse Rock, Johnny Be Goode) and the disco inferno of the 1970s (I Feel Love, You Should Be Dancing, I Will Survive).
The show is rich in texture, with every detail – costume, lighting, choreography, and musical arrangement — contributing to an immersive theatrical tapestry. The live band and vocalists deserve a standing ovation of their own. Their versatility was astounding, leaping effortlessly from big band swing to rock, Latin, and disco, all while giving the dancers a powerful, authentic rhythm to ride on.
Then, of course, there are Karen and Gorka.
Having met Karen several times, I can personally vouch for her warmth, wit and boundless energy. On stage, her Latin smile and uncontainable charisma are utterly magnetic. As I had written in our interview, “The energy we bring and the difference between watching us on TV versus live is astonishing. People will feel the sweat, see the breath, and experience the unexpected.” This is exactly what we got. She glowed with every step, leading the ensemble through fierce salsas, delicate American Smooths and fiery tangos — a whirlwind of passion and precision.
Gorka Márquez, meanwhile, is quite simply a force of nature. That hypnotic smile and sultry gaze… it’s no exaggeration to say that he appears to float across the stage. His footwork is light as air, yet grounded in the moment — always engaging the audience, winking and grinning with effortless confidence. And it’s not just the Latin heat; it’s the way he moves with purpose and fluidity, connecting each movement like a silk thread through time. His magnetism is the kind that simply can’t be captured on a small screen – you have to see him live to feel it.
Together, Karen and Gorka are a match made in dance heaven. As I wrote in my notes after the show, this Latin duo is possibly the best dancing couple to emerge from Strictly Come Dancing — and perhaps one of the greatest dance duos to grace a British stage. Their roots in Latin dance give the show a spice, an emotional truth that elevates Speakeasy from great to unforgettable.
Importantly, Speakeasy is not just a visual feast. It’s a living, breathing celebration of dance history, told with intelligence, humour, and heart. The choreography isn’t just technically perfect — it’s expressive and story-rich. There are no microphones or spoken words, but the narrative is crystal clear. As Karen told me, “The storyline is told entirely through dance… It’s mysterious, exquisite, dangerous.” And it is.
From the flirty glam of the Copacabana/Carmen Miranda number to the sass of the Pulp Fiction sequence and the sheer elation of Time of My Life, the show keeps reinventing itself while maintaining a coherent and compelling through-line.
Behind the dazzle lies a mountain of hard work. You can feel the hours poured into rehearsals. The precision of every lift, every beat, every glance shared between dancers – it’s the result of discipline and deep artistic synergy. Karen and Gorka don’t just perform; they inhabit the music. And the ensemble — tightly drilled, fiercely talented – support them beautifully.
As a regular reviewer of West End theatre, I see countless plays, musicals, and performances. But Speakeasy genuinely floored me. I was transfixed – alone in my seat but entirely connected to the stage, absorbed in every step. When I finally left the theatre, the London drizzle felt almost poetic. It was as though the show had sprinkled magic dust over everything.
If dance is a language, Speakeasy speaks fluently in joy, memory, sensuality, and power. It is a masterclass in what live performance can do – entertain, enthral, and elevate.
Final verdict? Speakeasy doesn’t just get a 10/10 – it gets a summa cum laude.
Go see it. Let yourself be swept away. You may never look at dance the same way again.
