If you’re heading to the Palace Theatre expecting a frame by frame recreation of the 1984 classic, you might be surprised by just how much emotion this production brings.
The Karate Kid – The Musical prioritises building character depth and it’s all for the better.
The book, written by original screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen, stays faithful to following the journey of Daniel LaRusso. However, it digs deeper into the emotions of the characters, exploring Daniel’s grief from the passing of his Father and Mr. Miyagi’s past with a fresh perspective.
With the transition to the stage, I didn't know what to expect when I found out that the production was a musical but it worked really well. I enjoyed the songs, I absolutely loved the choreography and a special shout out to Matt Mills, who plays John Kreese, for his lovely and unexpectedly soothing voice. Mills brings a surprising vocal richness to a character traditionally known only for his ‘no mercy’ intensity.
The heart of the show lies between its central duo. The on stage relationship between Gino Ochello (Daniel LaRusso) and Adriana Pang (Mr Miyagi) was heart warming. They connected well and this is something that you could still see during the standing ovations when they embraced one another. Gino Ochello played the part of Daniel LaRusso phenomenally and had such a familiar feeling due to his similarity in looks to young Ralph Macchio (original Daniel LaRusso). Adrian Pang's character had a subtle but impactful humour that got the crowd breaking out in laughter plenty of times. Pang, in particular, offers a performance that is dryly funny and very moving.
Drew Gasparini’s score leans into a contemporary musical theatre sound. The movement, however, is what caught my attention because I’d never seen it done like that before. Choreographers, Keone and Mari Madrid, have created a series of movements that blends traditional karate with contemporary dance. The fight scenes aren't just your typical brawl, but instead they create an interesting flow and rhythm of movement.
If you want to hear iconic phrases like ‘wax on, wax off’, ‘strike hard, no mercy’ and watch Mr Miyagi’s attempt at catching a fly with a chopstick, then this is the show for you!
If you are looking to mix up your midweek with a family outing or even a solo date, you should take yourself or your loved ones to the Palace Theatre to watch The Karate Kid - The Musical. Lucky for you, you’ll find it showing until Saturday 23rd May 2026. Find your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-karate-kid-the-musical/palace-theatre-manchester/
