Calling all StageSiders, welcome back to another review here at StageSideUK. This time, we are talking about my recent trip to the Darlington Hippodrome for the London Symphonic Rock Orchestra. Settle in, the review is about to start.
Disclaimer: I was gifted two free tickets in exchange for an honest review of the show.
The London Symphonic Rock Orchestra stormed the stage of the Darlington Hippodrome on the 15th October, and really rocked the roof off the theatre. Playing all of the hits from Kiss, Bon Jovi, Metallica, The Bangles and more. The show promises an evening of classic rock anthems with a symphonic twist. Disguising what would be electric guitar with violins, cellos and brass, the group showcased how orchestral sounds can rock! If you ever wondered what Living on a Prayer sounds like on a violin, chello and trumpet then this is the show for you.
Featuring some amazing scores and some great solos, this show packs a punch. The musicians themselves were clearly enjoying every moment on stage. Their energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and they knew how to work the crowd without ever losing focus on the music. Solos were given space to shine and were met with well-earned applause throughout the night.
A standout moment for me would be Enter Sandman, which was both powerful and precise. Each section of the orchestra had its chance to take the lead, creating a really great performance and some amazing musical moments.
I will be honest and say that there are some elements that took a while to warm up to. The music starts very loud right from the jump, and with instruments like a tin whistle, my ears were just not keeping up. However, that may just be my ears playing up. Everyone around me seemed to be living their best lives, dancing in their seats, singing along and getting involved with audience shout outs.
The London Symphonic Rock Orchestra offers something a little different for live music fans, a celebration of two worlds that don’t often meet, brought together a genuine love for performance. It’s a show that reminds us how versatile rock music can be, and how exciting it can be to hear music being performed with different instruments.
Accessibility:
This show features loud music from the start, as well as theatrical effects like flashing light and lights directed at the audience. The show is loud, and borders on being overwhelming. The show is worth watching but be aware that this is a real trip for the senses!
Value for Money:
Tickets for this show average around £45 each, which is quite expensive, I feel. Whilst there are alot of cast members and you can see where the money is going, that means for a pair of tickets you are looking at almost £100 and to me that is a little steep for the show. However, if rock music and musical arrangements are your cup of tea, this is well worth the watch. The run time is quite short with each act only being around 45 minutes to 50 minutes.
The London Symphonic Rock Orchestra is returning to the UK in 2026 with tour dates available here
For me it would be 4 stars, the show was fun and an interesting watch but I think there were some elements that were just a bit out of reach for me, and some took too long to warm up to.
Have your say!
Have you seen The London Symphonic Rock Orchestra? Let me know in the comments and let’s get a discussion going.
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Alyx Taylor-Scott