Bring It On Musical is a dream come true. As a kid, I always thought cheerleaders were the coolest people on the planet. The outfits, the dancing, the lipstick, the adrenaline. Watching the movie Bring It On, I was completely in awe of them. So when I found out it was finally coming to life on stage at Melbourne’s beautiful National Theatre, my ears pricked up.
On a freezing Melbourne Winter evening, and after a few weeks of comfort food indulgence, I wasn’t exactly feeling so ‘cheery’ myself. But within minutes of sitting down in the stunning theatre, double parked with a choc top and glass of shiraz, to watch the spectacular performers, Im instantly transported back to the rollercoaster of being a teenager.
Flashback to Teenhood
Before mortgages, pick ups and wrinkles were life’s biggest problems, high school posed different challenges. The popular kids. The bitchy queens. Having the cool clothes, being the right size. Every friendship and heartbreak felt like the biggest thing in the world. Bring It On captures those emotions beautifully. The show follows Campbell Davis, the popular captain of Truman High’s championship cheer squad. Suddenly, her world is turned upside down when she’s forced to change schools. She’s no longer one of the cool kids and has to discover that finding your place has far more to do with friendship than popularity.
Bring the Energy
Forget everything you know about cheerleaders. Bring It On Musical is so much more than matching outfits and shaking pom poms. High-impact choreography, powerhouse vocals, tumbling, hip hop and athleticism combine in a performance that’s as precise as it is exhilarating. Watching them, I genuinely start wondering whether these performers are AI bots or actually human. Not a single pigtail is out of place, every tumble lands, every smile is perfectly timed, and somehow they still make it all look effortless.
The humour is just as good. “Skylar and Kylar” had me giggling, and I seriously don’t think I’ve heard the word hickey for over twenty years, yet somehow it still had me in stitches of laughter. The script is quick, witty and never takes itself too seriously. And one quote stayed with me long after the curtains closed “We’d still do this if nobody was watching.”
Bring It On Musical is bold, uplifting and celebrates friendship, diversity and having the courage to be yourself. He, she or they, it simply doesn’t matter. Everyone belongs, has their place and every performer gives absolutely everything they’ve got. Whether you grew up loving the movie or you’re discovering Bring It On for the first time, you’ll leave smiling, laughing and probably remembering a little of your own teenage self.
What We’re Addicted To: Living vicariously through teenage life, spectacular choreography and a kick ass cast. Would see it all again.
What We Need to Be More Addicted: The opportunity to jump on stage and have a dance with these absolute rockstars.
Bring it on – The National Theatre 20 Carlisle Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
Season: 11 – 26 July 2026
Bookings – https://booktickets.com.au/bringiton/