Go to content

The Karate Kid - Greasepaint and Stage Lights - Theatre Radio Show

Broadcasting on  Countywide Radio - Mondays at 4pm Acacia Radio - Mondays 9pm Affinity Radio - Mondays at 11pm Cirencester - Tuesdays at 2pm HWD Radio - Tuesdays at 6pm Forest FM - Tuesdays at 7pm South Devon Sound - Wednesdays at 11pm Cabin FM - Wednesdays at 6pm JHR Radio - Thursdays at 12pm Drystone Radio - Thursday at 12pm Islands FM - Thursdays at 8pm Red Road FM - Thursdays at 9pm Radio Hillingdon - Thursday at 9pm Sounds of Broadway - Various USA times South Devon Sounds - Fridays at 2pm Dover Radio - Saturdays at 2pm Elastic FM - Sundays 2pm Crystal Radio - Saturday at 5pm Cabin Fm - Saturdays at 5pm Image Radio - Saturdays 6pm Coast and County - Sundays at 9am Whaley Radio - Sundays at 10am Arrowesound - Sundays at 10am Barts Radio - Sundays at 11am West Norfolk Radio - Sundays 12 Noon KGH Radio - Sundays at 2pm Hereford Radio - Sundays 2pm West Surrey Radio - Sundays 2pm Humberwave Radio - Sundays 5pm Chiltern Voice - Sundays at 5pm Islands FM - Sundays at 6pm Canalside FM - Sundays at 6pm Beverley FM - Sundays at 6pm 3T FM - Sundays at 6pm Ribble Radio - Sundays at 6pm Meridian FM - Sundays at 7pm L35 Online Radio - Sundays at 8pm Guernsey Radio - Sundays at 9pm The Beat of South Texas - Various Times Phantom Radio - Sundays - 6pm West Wiltshire Radio - Sundays at 11am Conquest Radio - Sundays at 9am West Norfolk Radio - Sundays 12noon Shire Extra - Sundays 10am Swindon HBO - Sundays at 2pm Veteran Radio - Sundays at 2pm Beacon Radio - Sundays at 3pm Chiltern Radio - Sundays at 3pm County Sound - Sundays at 3pm ABC Radio - Sundays at 4pm Derwent Sound - Sundays at 3pm Hereward Sound - Sundays at 3pm Invicta Sound - Sundays at 3pm K-CBC - Sundays at 3pm Leicester Sound - Sundays at 3pm Marcher Sound - Sundays at 3pm Mercia Sound - Sundays at 3pm Penine Sound - Sundays at 3pm Radio Broadland - Sundays at 3pm Radio Hallam - Sundays at 3pm Radio Mercury - Sundays at 3pm Radio Victory - Sundays at 3pm Radio West - Sundays at 3pm Saxon Radio - Sundays at 3pm Souther Sound Radio - Sundays at 3pm Swansea Sound - Sundays at 3pm

Access menu ->
Skip menu

Broadcasting on  Radio Hillingdon - Thursday at 9pm Countywide Radio - Mondays at 4pm Coast & County - 97.4 - Mondays at 11pm Carillon Wellbeing Radio - Tuesdays at 5pm Cirencester HBO - Tuesdays at 7pm Forest FM - 92.3 - Tuesdays at 7pm UK Radio Network - Tuesday at 9pm Cabin FM 96.4FM - Wednesdays at 6pm Hastings Radio - Wednesdays at 9pm South Devon Sound - Wednesdays at 11pm JHR Radio - Thursdays at 12pm Drystone Radio 103.5 - Thursday at 12pm Red Road FM - 102.4 - Thursdays at 9pm Sounds of Broadway - Various USA times Illuminate Radio - Saturday at 4pm Crystal Radio - 107.4 - Saturday at 5pm Conquest Radio - Sundays at 9am Coast and County - Sundays at 9am Whaley Radio - Sundays at 10am South Wales One - Sundays at 4pm Barts HBO - Sundays at 11am KGH HBO - Sundays at 2pm Hereford HOB - Sundays 2pm Storm FM - Sundays at 7PM West Hull FM - 106.9 - Sundays 5pm Islands FM - 107.9 - Sundays at 6pm Canalside FM - Sundays at 6pm Meridian FM - 107 - Sundays at 7pm Rural Radio UK - Sundays 7pm Basingstoke Radio - Sundays at 8pm Guernsey Radio - Sundays at 9pm LCR FM - 103.6 - Sundays at 11pm South Devon Sound - Fridays at 1pm HWD Radio - Tuesdays at 6pm KGH - Thursdays at 7pm London Wide Radio - Various Times Islands FM - Thursdays at 8pm South Devon Sound - Friday 2pm JHR Radio - Fridays at 4pm

Skip menu

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid
Milton Keynes Theatre (UK Tour)
(Review Complete)
"A right kicking of a show"
16th June 2026


This week Milton Keynes theatre is Bringing the iconic 1984 coming‑of‑age story to the stage. It is no small task, and this new production largely succeeds in capturing the heart, spirit, and nostalgia of the original film. Running through its first tour, it introduces  fresh faces alongside seasoned performers, resulting in a show that feels both familiar and newly energised.

 
Casting & Performances
Making his professional tour debut as Daniel LaRusso, Gino Ochello steps into some very big shoes. previous performance are mainly restricted to his sixth form productions at school. For a first‑time lead, he brings natural charm, youthful energy, and just the right mix of vulnerability and determination. Occasionally however over exaggerating in his movements. There are moments where his delivery settles beautifully into the character, showing real promise as he grows into the role

Adrian Pang offers a thoughtful, dignified take on Mr Miyagi. He balances the character’s quiet wisdom, gentle humour, and hidden depth with great warmth — never imitating the original, but creating a version all his own that still feels true to the spirit of the mentor we remember.

Alena Breschi brings brightness and sincerity to Ali Mills; her scenes with Daniel feel genuine and help ground the story in its sweet teenage romance.

Sharon Sexton is wonderful as Lucille LaRusso, capturing the love, worry, and resilience of a single mother trying to give her son a fresh start.

On the opposing side, Matt Mills makes for a formidable John Kreese — stern, intimidating, and believably ruthless as the Cobra Kai sensei — while Joe Simmons brings swagger and menace to Johnny Lawrence, making the rivalry feel sharp and personal.

A standout vocal highlight comes from Ria Tanaka as Kiyoko, Mr Miyagi’s late wife. When she appeared in the reflective, emotional scene, her voice is pure, haunting, and truly excellent — adding a layer of beauty and poignancy that elevates those moments far beyond what might be expected.

 
Staging & Choreography
The staging is smart and well‑designed, using clever set pieces and projections to shift between scenes — from the LaRusso household to Mr Miyagi's work shop and onto the Cobra Kai dojo, the clubhouse, restaurant and the tournament. That said, there is one noticeable limitation: if you are seated in the side sections as we were, certain set configurations and scene positions can partially block the view, making it harder to see some of the action clearly. It’s not a dealbreaker, but something worth noting when booking seats.

Where the production truly shines is in its choreography. The bonsai tree dance, The fight sequences and training scenes are carefully constructed, dynamic, and exciting — striking a fine balance between looking authentic and working safely within the stage space. The dance and movement work throughout the show is fluid, energetic, and perfectly matched to the story’s rhythm.

 

Sound & Music
The score does a good job of supporting the narrative, but there is one technical issue in the first half: at times, the band  are too loud, which occasionally drowns out the actors’ dialogue. It means some lines are lost, especially during busier musical numbers. Hopefully, this is something that can be adjusted as the tour continues, because once the balance settles in the second act, the sound works much better, letting both the music and the performances shine.

 

Final Verdict
This isn’t a perfect production yet — the sightline considerations and early‑act sound balance keep it from a five‑star rating — but it is a heartfelt, entertaining adaptation that stays true to what made the original film a classic. If you grew up watching The Karate Kid in the 1980s, you’ll find plenty here to love, and for newcomers, it tells a timeless story of courage, respect, and friendship.
 
Summary
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
✅ Great performances, standout vocals, brilliant choreography
⚠️ Occasional sightline issues; sound balance needs tweaking in Act 1
👉 Verdict: A must‑see for fans of the film — and a solid night out for everyone else.

Reviewer: Mark Bilsby

Photography: Manual Harlan

We are Gifted tickets so that in return we may give an honest review. All comments are those of the reviewer and theirs alone.

Greasepaint and Stage Lights

Email: musicals@btinternet.com
website: www.greasepaintandstagelights.co.uk
Skip menu
Back to content