We were kindly invited along to opening night of Avenue Q at Theatre Royal and, because this is definitely not one for the kids, I took the opportunity to grab a mum friend and enjoy a much needed half term girls night out!
The first thing we noticed was the real buzz around the theatre. The audience was a lovely mix of musical theatre fans, supporters of Portsmouth theatre, and curious first timers ready to see what all the fuss about Avenue Q is really about.
What is Avenue Q?
For anyone unfamiliar, Avenue Q is the award-winning musical that famously combines puppets with very grown-up humour. Often described as “Sesame Street for adults”, the show first premiered Off-Broadway in 2003 before transferring to Broadway, where it became a huge success and won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Created by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty, the musical cleverly mixes catchy songs, outrageous comedy and surprisingly heartfelt moments. Beneath all the swearing, satire and hilariously inappropriate puppet antics, Avenue Q explores very relatable themes including adulthood, relationships, careers, identity and finding your purpose in life.
It’s witty, bold, nostalgic and completely unfiltered, which is exactly why audiences still love it over twenty years later.
The Portsmouth Players Production
The fabulous The Portsmouth Players absolutely outdid themselves with this production! The cast had fantastic energy throughout, balancing the chaos and comedy perfectly while still delivering the emotional moments that give the show its heart.
The puppetry itself was incredibly impressive. I mean… it really can’t be easy acting, singing and operating a puppet all at once, yet the performers made it look effortless. After only a few minutes, you almost forget the actors are even there and become completely invested in the puppet characters instead.
The comedy landed brilliantly with the audience too, especially during some of the show’s most infamous musical numbers. Trekkie Monster, played by Ben Irish, was absolutely my favourite and his involvement in that song about the internet had us in stitches… if you know, you know!
Lucy, played by Beth Evans, was also a standout — shameless, hilarious and completely iconic. We loved her! But honestly, every single cast member was outstanding and the whole production genuinely felt like a West End show. In fact, I refuse to believe it could have been done any better in the West End!
Musically, the cast sounded fantastic, with strong vocals across the board and brilliant ensemble numbers that really brought the show to life.
A Perfect Adults Only Night Out
As mums, it felt very refreshing to swap family films and soft play for something unapologetically aimed at adults! Avenue Q is cheeky, clever and at times gloriously outrageous, making it the perfect excuse for a girls’ night out, date night or theatre trip with friends.
Just to be clear...despite the puppets, this is very much an adult show! Expect strong language, adult themes and plenty of humour that would sail straight over little heads… or horrify them entirely!
Final Thoughts
We had such a fun evening watching Avenue Q at Theatre Royal. Huge congratulations to The Portsmouth Players for putting on such a confident, funny and entertaining production.
If you’re looking for a theatre night that will make you laugh loudly, cringe occasionally and leave humming the songs for days afterwards, this is definitely one to book.
Just leave the kids at home for this one!
Avenue Q at Theatre Royal runs from Tuesday 26th May to Saturday 30th May 2026. Tickets currently start from £23
*Photo Credit Katherine Duffy
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