Taylormania hit Wimbledon Theatre last month, and let me tell you, it was a Swifty paradise! From the moment we walked in, the excitement in the air was electric, with a crowd buzzing like they’d just found out Taylor Swift herself had dropped by. Honestly, when ‘she’ came on, there were more screams than at a Halloween horror marathon!
My two girls, absolute Swifties since their mum turned our living room into a full-on ERAS tour screening last summer, were practically vibrating with joy. And they weren’t alone; every kid, teenager, and plenty of grown-ups too were belting out every word like their lives depended on it. If you’re a Swifty, you’ll love it. And if you’re not… um, why not? She’s amazing.
Katy Ellis was brilliant – spot on with Taylor’s energy and vibe, nailing the little details that make Taylor, Taylor. She wasn’t trying to pretend she was actually Taylor Swift; she even reminded us at one point, “I’m Katy,” but the audience didn’t mind. To them, she was Taylor.
The costumes were an absolute standout – fourteen changes! Each one more iconic than the last. My youngest went wild for the famous snake jumpsuit, and even I got chills when Katy emerged in the fairy princess gown for Enchanted. I mean, squint a bit (okay a fair bit), and you’d swear it really was Taylor.
The production quality was genuinely impressive too. The pyrotechnics – sparks, flames, the works – gave it that proper concert feel, especially impressive given this isn’t some mega-budget tour. Lighting design nailed it, particularly during Look What You Made Me Do. Even the band and dancers, although I’d have loved to see a bit more diversity there, were fantastic, bringing a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm to every song.
Admittedly, the second half felt a bit slower after the interval. Probably fine for the matinee crowd, but when you’ve got people who’ve been dancing and screaming for an hour already, and it’s past a lot of bedtimes, the mellow numbers dragged a touch. Still, looking around, nobody seemed to mind.
A girl in front of us, who’d been to the actual ERAS tour, started off rating her excitement at a seven and ended up at a solid ten, fully convinced she was reliving the magic. My eldest (10 going on 15) summed it up perfectly: ‘It basically felt like Taylor Swift was right up there.‘
Taylormania isn’t just a tribute; it’s an absolute joy fest for Swifties of all ages. So shake off your doubts, grab a friendship bracelet (or twenty), and get ready to scream like it’s 1989. This one’s a total Love Story.
Catch Taylormania on tour at a theatre near you. Tickets from ticketnation.uk
Words By Nick Barr
Photos by David Warren Photography
