Mrs. Doubtfire.

This week, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Press Night performance of Mrs. Doubtfire at Leeds Grand Theatre. A huge thank you to Bryony and the team for the invitation!

How far would you go to spend more time with the people you love? For Daniel Hillard, the answer involves a wig, a Scottish accent and a rather convincing disguise!

Based on the much-loved 1993 film starring Robin Williams, Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical brings the iconic family comedy to life on stage as part of its UK tour.

Following the breakdown of his marriage, Daniel is struggling with being separated from his three children. When his former wife, Miranda, advertises for a nanny, he sees an opportunity that is far too tempting to resist. Enter Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, an unlikely housekeeper with a rather extraordinary secret.

I went into this performance genuinely unsure what to expect. I have always loved the original film, but I couldn't quite imagine how it would work as a musical. Well, I certainly didn't need to worry! I was completely blown away by what I saw, and I don't think I could have enjoyed it any more than I did.

Where do I even begin with Gabriel Vick? Playing both Daniel Hillard and Mrs. Doubtfire, he was absolutely phenomenal. I honestly don't think I have the words to do his performance justice. His comic timing, facial expressions, energy and ability to switch between characters were just incredible. He seemed to give absolutely everything to the role, and I found myself watching in amazement at just how much he was doing throughout the show. He really is an extraordinary performer.

One of my biggest highlights was the transformation scene, where Daniel becomes Mrs. Doubtfire. I knew there would be some clever costume changes, but nothing prepared me for just how impressive this would be on stage. The speed of it all was unbelievable, and I couldn't help wondering how on earth they managed to pull it off so smoothly!

Then there was the Spanish restaurant scene, which was easily one of my favourite parts of the entire evening. Anyone familiar with the film will know exactly how disastrously things unfold for Daniel, and seeing that chaos recreated on stage was hilarious. The increasingly frantic attempts to keep Mrs. Doubtfire's identity a secret, the timing of everything going wrong and Gabriel Vick's performance throughout had me laughing so much.

I also have to give a special mention to Daniel's brother Frank, played by Ryan Pidgen, and his husband Andre, played by Jairus McClanahan. These two were absolutely brilliant together! Every time they appeared, I knew we were in for something funny, but Frank's attempts at lying were particularly hilarious. The expressions, the delivery and the way they played off each other were fantastic. They were such a memorable part of the show for me, and I would have happily watched even more of them.

Something else I really wasn't expecting to be quite so impressed by was the set design. The attention to detail was remarkable, and I kept finding myself looking around the stage, taking everything in. The scene changes were incredibly quick, especially considering how much scenery was involved. It was one of those productions where I found myself appreciating not just what was happening in front of me, but also the amount of work that must have gone into making it all happen. The costumes, music and choreography only added to an already fantastic performance.

What I also hadn't fully anticipated was just how emotional the story would become. There is so much laughter throughout that it is easy to forget there is a family going through a very difficult time at the centre of it all. Daniel might go about things in the most ridiculous way imaginable, but underneath the disguise is a father who simply wants to be with his children.

By the end, the mood in the theatre had noticeably changed. I remember looking around the auditorium and seeing people visibly moved, with some clearly struggling to hold back their emotions. I think anyone who has experienced what society often calls a 'broken family' will understand the message behind those final scenes. Families come in all different forms, and sometimes the traditional picture of what a family should look like simply isn't the reality. That doesn't mean the love is any less important, and I thought the musical delivered that message particularly well.

Having grown up with the Robin Williams film, I was also pleased that the musical didn't feel like it was simply trying to imitate something so familiar. There were plenty of moments I recognised and looked forward to seeing, but the production had its own personality. I found the balance of nostalgia, humour and music worked far better than I had ever imagined it would.

For me, Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical was an easy 10/10! I arrived with very few expectations and left wondering how I could possibly put into words just how much I had enjoyed it. It was funny, clever, unexpectedly emotional and genuinely one of those theatre experiences I would love to see again.

If you get the opportunity to see this production, please do. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to go back! Mrs. Doubtfire is showing at Leeds Grand Theatre from the 10th to the 29th of November 2026. You can purchase tickets here.