Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands is one of those films that lingers in the collective imagination – gothic, romantic, heartbreakingly weird, a cult classic. But it was never a musical – until now.

‘Scissorhandz’ A Musical Reinvented, premiering in the UK at Southwark Playhouse, Elephant, is a lovingly crafted reinterpretation of the story, keeping all the important elements, but with more comedy, more queerness, a whole lot of music, and focusing strongly on the issues of identity and gender.

From the start, the show sets a lighter tone than the source material. Before it even starts, Scissorhandz co-producer and Drag Race co-presenter, Michelle Visage is heard welcoming the audience of ‘beautiful weirdos’, setting the tone for a fun filled show, celebrating diversity. The set is designed to look like a pile of speakers and amps piled up on each other, combined with guitar silhouettes, giving the stage the look of some sort of gothic rock concert. This feel is compounded when Scissorhandz – played by Jordan Kai Burnett, who originated the role in Hollywood – comes out to start the show and welcomes us to their ‘concert’ as their adoring fans. The show starts upbeat and energetic with a Smashing Pumpkins track, before calming to an arrangement of Silent Night, with the ensemble dressed in ghost like hooded robes, more tonally in line with the opening of the movie.

The story then begins, with Scissorhandz (SH) in the creepy old house with their inventor/mother. The inventor, played by Dionne Gipson – she also played the role in Hollywood, and oh my goodness what a voice – having brought SH to life in a fun and dramatic scene, sings to SH that they must Dream On (Aerosmith) whilst also never leaving ‘this house’. Gipson’s vocal range and ability is astounding, and although she does sing in flashback sequences later, it seems a shame for someone with such presence and raw talent to feature so little in the show.

At this stage of the show, I’m a little confused – one minute we’re being welcomed to a concert with “We are Scissorhandz”, and then we dive into a more traditional story based musical format. The opening is a fun way to start, but it feels incongruous with what comes next. At first, I wasn’t sure what I was watching. A rock concert? A traditional musical? Turns out, a little bit of both. It’s a weird start, but once the show finds its rhythm, you roll with it.

Before attending the show, I thought I was going to a parody-musical, but I would not describe this as parody. Yes, there is a lot of comedy in there, but overall, the story is very much the same, despite some randomly thrown in musical numbers for comic value.

Now I am no stranger to jukebox musicals, and I know they can be a bit hit & miss. One of the most important things I look for in a jukebox musical is whether the songs actually fit the story, whether they feel like they were written for the characters or if they’re just thrown in because someone liked them. Some, like Fighter, work brilliantly. Lauren Jones, playing Kim, delivers a knockout performance, belting out all her frustration at what’s expected of her. This version of Kim is more than just a love interest. She has her own agency, her own arc, and her growing bond with SH is beautifully played. Their duet, With These Hands, is a genuinely touching moment that lands right in the heart.

And then… there’s Let’s Have a Kiki and Blue Heaven. These numbers aren’t here to push the plot forward, they’re here to be ridiculous. The cast goes wild, the audience eats it up, and the whole thing is a toe-tapping clap-along frenzy. Do they fit tonally? Absolutely not. Do I care? Not really.

Then again… in a show that is all about identity, about not fitting in, about feeling like your body is not right for you, and ultimately about the tragedy of some people being “afraid of anything that doesn’t fit in their perfect cookie cutter box”, maybe it’s ok for the show to be a bit all over the place tonally. There are moments of real and raw emotion as well as some laugh out loud comedy. There are songs that have the audience in tears, and songs that have us tapping our feet and having to hold back from singing. There’s a randomly inserted TV interview with SH which is really just an excuse for the host – Ryan O’Connor – to have some fun audience interaction, but it is really funny. The show does not fit into my ‘perfect cookie cutter box’ of how a musical should flow, but it still works in its own original way.

Some of the messaging is a little on the nose – “where did he… you mean she? …I mean they.” – but overall, it was an important message that comes over well. Anyone that has ever grappled with their identity or struggled to fit into a community of any kind, will relate powerfully to what SH is going through.

I haven’t said enough about the great performances – Emma Williams is  sublime as Peg, the woman who takes SH from their lonely life and brings them to live with her and her family. Emma is a four time Olivier Award nominee and you can see why; the raw emotion and passion she puts into this role is tangible. The motherly love she feels and how her heart breaks as SH asks her ‘Why are they afraid of me?’ is so believable and hits the audience right in the feels.

For that matter, Jordan Kai Burnett as Scissorhandz – “your name’s Scissorhandz? Isn’t that a little on the nose?” – is also incredible, displaying emotion and depth of character that one doesn’t expect to see in a show labelled a ‘parody’.

The set design and the use of projection by James Pearse Connelly transforms the small space and pulls the audience deeper into the action. Nicola Thorp’s hilarious and clever use of wigs – these are especially brilliant in the hair cutting scene – combined with Abby Clarke’s costumes, are a feast for the eyes and so much fun.

Is this show tonally all over the place? Yes. Does it have you in tears one minute and then roaring with laughter the next? Yes. And just after the lead character accidentally kills a boy? We get a big, fun, uplifting finale. Yes! But you know what? Like Scissorhandz themselves, this show is a patchwork of tones, stitched together with heart, humour, and a cast that refuses to hold back.

If you’re looking for a serious, brooding adaptation of Edward Scissorhands, this isn’t it. If you want a celebration of queerness, identity, and being a “beautiful weirdo” with some amazing songs thrown in, then you’ve come to the right place. So, get the gang together, grab your tickets, and get yourselves down to Southwark Playhouse Elephant before March 29. It’s time to get your weird on.

Tickets at scissorhandzthemusical.com

Words by Nick Barr

Photos by Danny Kaan