Strictly favourite, Kai Widdrington, brings dazzling dance, personal storytelling and plenty of North East pride to the Playhouse Whitley Bay.
Kai Widdrington and Vicky Pattison were one of my favourite couples from the last series of Strictly Come Dancing. So, when I saw that Kai was touring with his very own show, I was curious to see what he would do away from TV’s most famous ballroom. And, being totally honest, I was keen to admire all those shimmering sequins in real life!
His Evolution show, now in its second year, landed at the Playhouse Whitley Bay last Monday. I managed to secure seats just three rows from the front and it turned out to be the perfect spot for appreciating every intricate step, lift and movement from Kai and his talented cast. I could even see the individual droplets of sweat spraying from his hair onto the stage during some of the more energetic numbers – it really was an up-close-and-personal experience!
The story behind Kai's success
Evolution charts Kai’s journey from a young boy discovering his passion for dance, through the competitive dance circuit, to reaching the final of Britain’s Got Talent and, of course, securing the coveted role as a full-time pro on Strictly back in 2021.
With a microphone in hand, Kai was every bit as charismatic and engaging as he is on television. You could say his warmth and humour sparkled just as much as his costumes!
Throughout the show, he shared anecdotes – and a few impressions of his Strictly colleagues – with the audience, while ballroom and Latin routines brought his story to life.
The sound and roots of Evolution
The music was more eclectic than I was expecting, blending classics such as Singin’ in the Rain, a fun tribute to Jim Carrey’s The Mask, a Michael Jackson medley and hits from contemporary artists like Bruno Mars. This variety kept the pace on point throughout.
In case you didn’t know, it’s not just Vicky Pattison who gives Kai a connection to the North East. His dad was born in Newcastle, and his grandad was in the audience on the night we attended. There were nods to Newcastle and his Geordie roots throughout the show, with Kai even donning a Newcastle United shirt during a football-inspired routine. Unsurprisingly, the audience loved it!
A passion for dance
For me, the standout performance of the evening was Kai’s duet with cast member, Rebecca Scott (a British and World Champion, no less) to Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever.
The hauntingly beautiful music married with the choreography perfectly. I could feel the emotion and intent behind their movements as they floated across the stage with such power and poise. It gave me all the tingles! Spectacular.
A glitterball dream?
Watching Kai perform live offers a completely different perspective to seeing him on television (and I’m not just talking about those droplets of sweat!).
The routines brought a little bit of everything that you could want from a dance show: energy, flair, elegance and artistry. And lots of moments that leave you smiling as you look on in awe.
On Strictly, you tend to only see the polished, edited version of each dancer, but Evolution allows Kai to showcase his own creativity and personality to the max, without any limitations.
Now, all that’s left to do is patiently wait for his return to my TV screen this autumn, and dare I say it…keep dancing!
Kai Widdrington’s Evolution show is touring the UK until 18th July 2026. He returns to the Playhouse Whitley Bay next July with his new production, My Revolution, and tickets are available now from www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk/events/kai-my-revolution.
Featured hero image: Tania Richards
