Rick Riordan’s hit book series, Percy Jackson And The Olympians, tells the story of a seemingly ordinary boy (Percy) who struggles in school with ADHD and dyslexia - before it’s revealed that he’s actually the son of a Greek god. The epic adventures that ensue for Percy and his friends have previously been captured on the big screen and recently found a new audience via a Disney+ TV series. Now, fans around the country have the chance to catch up with Percy live on stage in a touring musical. What’s On spoke to the cast of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical to find out more…

It’s been 20 years since the publication of The Lightning Thief - the first novel in Rick Riordan’s hit fantasy-adventure series, Percy Jackson And The Olympians. The story follows the character of teenager Percy, who keeps finding himself in trouble at school and struggling to fit in. He eventually discovers that he is a demigod - his mother is human, but his absent father is a god from Greek mythology.

Vasco Emauz plays the title character in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, which, after its UK premiere in 2024, is now travelling to theatres across the nation, visiting Birmingham Hippodrome next month.

“Percy is just a kid who doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere,” Vasco explains. “He’s got ADHD, and he’s just coming to terms with being the son of a Greek god.

“I remember being a teenager trying to figure out what to do with my life and who I was at the same time. I feel like that’s why a lot of writers gravitate towards having teenagers as heroes. The classic ‘hero journey’ is finding out who you are, what you’re good at, and going through all these trials - finding your ground. I think it translates really well into a ‘coming of age’ story.”

According to Vasco, who loved Riordan’s books as a child, the character offers important representation for teenagers who have faced similar struggles - even if they don’t have divine blood in their veins.

“It’s always amazing to see how teenagers relate to this story. I’ve gotten so many people at Stage Door talking about how they struggle with ADHD or dyslexia, and they find it so special to see heroes who have qualities that are usually seen in the world as negative traits - which is not true; they’re just different."

Joining Vasco in the cast are Cahir O’Neill as Grover, a satyr, and Kayna Montecillo as Annabeth, who, like Percy, is a demigod. Together, they portray the three heroes of the story.

“Grover Underwood is Percy’s best friend through this whole experience,” says Cahir. “He just drags him along and tries to protect him from all the monsters!”

“I play Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom,” adds Kayna. “She’s got a lot of strength in her knowledge and the way she fights.”

As the story is inspired by the adventures and quests told in Greek myths, there is some considerable pressure to ensure that the stage production is also suitably bombastic.

“It’s absolutely epic,” says Cahir. “I mean, we go on such a huge journey throughout the show. Expect the unexpected - one minute we’re on a bus, the next minute, we’re blowing up the bus, and then there’s monsters flying everywhere! What Lizzi Gee, the director, has done to the show suits it perfectly, I think. She’s done an amazing job of bringing the novel to life. The joy of [meeting] children at the Stage Door, when they say ‘I’ve grown up with the movies and I’ve grown up with the books,’ and knowing that we’ve done a perfect job for them, is honestly so rewarding in itself.”

The production is, after all, a real treat for fans of Percy Jackson - whether they devoured the book series, enjoyed the film adaptations made in the 2010s, or have rekindled their love of the story through a new television series, released by Disney in 2023. The books are particularly popular with teenage and pre-teen readers - so, for many, this is the first time they will be able to see their heroes come to life on stage; the musical’s tour has offered fans across the country the chance to see the story in a new way.

“I never really thought about how much more accessible it would be for people to come and see it,” says Kayna. “Every time we go to Stage Door, there’s been moments where someone’s like ‘This is the first time I’ve ever seen a musical,’ and a lot of them are kids. I think that’s been my favourite part [of the tour], and probably the part that surprised me the most.”

“It’s so exciting, bringing this show on the road for people who didn’t have the option to go to London,” says Cahir. “It’s so lovely, because the Percy Jackson community spans so many different places. No matter where we go, there’s fans in orange ‘Camp Half Blood’ T-shirts.”

And for the cast themselves, the tour has opened up some new opportunities as well.

“It’s just been so great to see so much of the UK,” says Vasco, who hails from Portugal. “Speaking for myself, I’ve never actually left London, apart from going to see my sister in Southampton. So being able to see the country and getting paid to do it, and being able to do a show at the same time, has just been a huge privilege. We’ve seen some amazing places!”

The trio have now been on the road with this production since August, but they show no signs of losing passion for their characters.

“I feel like I’m still learning so much about Annabeth every time I tell the story,” says Kayna. “Especially her relationship with everyone on stage. That’s always the fun of it - once rehearsals have finished, you never really stop learning new things, and you never stop discovering things about the character. Every time I play her, I love her so much more. I didn’t think I ever could.”

“Grover is such a goofy character,” adds Cahir. “He has so much comic energy throughout the whole show, but since starting the show, I’ve found so much depth in him, and so much emotional connection to him as well. It’s just so beautiful to open that and release it to the audience. I’ll cherish Grover forever. I think he’s just going to stick with me for life now.”

Part of the magic of live performance is the opportunity to see beloved characters as you’ve never seen them before - and for the young stars of The Lightning Thief, stepping out onto the stage to portray them is just as exciting.

“In any show, every time you do the show, you find something new,” says Vasco. “It’s great to not settle into what you’ve done; to keep it fresh, while at the same time keeping it consistent. I’ve loved Percy since I was a young kid. He was my childhood hero. I love him a lot, and I will continue to love him for the rest of this tour, and afterwards.”

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 February

By Jessica Clixby