Rating: ★★★★

Venue: Vaudeville Theatre, London

Cast: Cassidy Janson

Westway Music is back at it again with the Westway Sessions, an intimate concert series spotlighting some of the highest-calibre talent from the West End. On 7th April at the Vaudeville Theatre, it was Olivier Award-winner Cassidy Janson’s turn to take the stage.

Cassidy is best known for her roles as Anne Hathaway in the original West End cast of & Juliet and the title role in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Having only recently seen her in Austenland, where she stood out as a performer, I arrived at the concert with limited expectations. I left thoroughly impressed—keen to explore her discography and eager to follow her future projects.

Highlights of the night included “That’s The Way It Is” from & Juliet, a nod to her Olivier-winning role—and it absolutely delivered. She also wowed with stunning renditions of “I’m Not That Girl” from Wicked, “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl (and from the amount of phones that came out for a sneaky snap and vid, this was a crowd favourite), and “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

The show wasn’t polished—Cassidy battled a sinus infection, struggled with her mic stand, and even requested tissues mid-show from the audience, band or stage management—but all of this only made her more personable and down-to-earth. These unscripted moments, rather than detracting from the experience, only enhanced her relatability. Watching her laugh at herself and crack jokes was a reminder that concerts give performers the rare opportunity to let their personalities shine through, unlike when they’re in character. And shine she did—just as brightly as her glamorous glittery ensembles.

It was also beautiful to see the band onstage—a rare treat in theatre, where musicians are often tucked away in the pit or hidden offstage. Cassidy clearly has genuine affection for her band, and she made space for each of them to shine and be celebrated.

The only slight tension with concert-style productions in traditional theatre venues is figuring out where the line lies between theatre and gig. With Cassidy’s infectious energy, the urge to dance, clap mid-song, or light up the phone torch and sway along was hard to resist. But in a venue where theatre etiquette is deeply ingrained, there’s still some awkwardness about what’s “allowed.”

Despite that, Cassidy’s warmth, humour, and easy rapport with the audience made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. She is a standout performer not only for her vocal and theatrical talent, but for the authenticity and charm she brings to the stage. She is an endearing and enchanting star.