A lifelong Dolly Parton fan and admirer of the 1980 film, David Simper heads to Blackpool Grand Theatre for 9 to 5: The Musical — and finds a witty, big-hearted stage adaptation that has the audience on their feet by the finale.
As a keen Dolly Parton fan, and having been impressed by the 1980 film version of 9 to 5, I was delighted to be asked to review this show, which did not disappoint in any way. After dashing through the family meal after work, I caught the service 61 bus to Corporation Street and then on to Blackpool Grand Theatre.
If it wasn’t so late as I write this, having just got back from the show with my wife already asleep, I’d be playing my Dolly Parton greatest hits disc, and playing it loudly. “9 to 5” is the second track after “Jolene”. Such a fine songwriter, as this show amply demonstrates. Dolly has put together a suite of songs to illustrate the story on stage, rather than the film’s traditional speech-based approach. The stage production does follow the film’s storyline quite closely – I must admit I’d forgotten the darkly hilarious corpse-based sequence.
Should you not be familiar with the rough storyline, it revolves around the ghastly working conditions forced on a resentful workforce by a monstrous, bullying manager, so short-sighted he can’t see past the end of his desk, let alone the long-term consequences of his actions. Those consequences fall mainly on the women.
With the inexperienced Judy’s arrival and the resolution of a misunderstanding with Doralee, a trio forms around office veteran Violet. These three are fated to transform their colleagues’ working lives, and coincidentally improve productivity markedly along the way. But first, something unlikely — though strangely believable — has to happen, helped along by a number of useful coincidences.
There’s some conversational dialogue, but the songs mainly tell the story through a series of rich, complex dance sequences. As seems typical nowadays, the set is constantly changing around the performers, with the cast deftly wheeling and carrying props on and off the stage to order. So professionally done; I’d never remember the moves. Singing and sound quality are both marvellous.
9 to 5 is quite a radical film – if I remember the credits, a trade union had acted as an advisor. I read in the excellent programme, though, that one of the film’s germs came from Jane Fonda’s relationship with a member of the real-life 9 to 5 women’s advocacy group operating in Boston, USA. That group still works for women’s workplace rights today.
Most entertainment relies on the temporary suspension of disbelief, and this production’s ending requires that in large measure, but it gets its point across. With things tied up, the way is open to the triumphant all-cast finale. The show features a live band on stage — something of a rarity nowadays — which sounded marvellous, and for the closing number they really let rip. The audience had been responding to songs throughout the production, but as the last chords crashed in they went wild.
This is a fine show and well worth seeing. Landmark Theatres is touring the show between July and September 2026 — a nationally operating, community-embedded organisation delivering high-quality theatre to the widest possible demographic, particularly in areas of low cultural engagement. I wouldn’t define Blackpool as the latter, particularly in view of the City of Culture bid, but the group’s aims are clearly admirable. Catch this show if you can!
9-5 The Musical is at Blackpool Grand Theatre until 25th July. Tickets available here.
