Review: I Was a Teenage She-Devil, Fringe 2025

I Was a Teenage She-Devil is an 80s-set horror rock opera that delivers exactly what it promises: Lycra, big hair, classic movie references, and a deal with the Devil. Playing as a late-night show at theSpace @ Niddry St (one of the grand rooms in the Radisson Blu Hotel), this high-voltage musical from New York is a riot of camp horror and energetic anthems.

The plot will be familiar to anyone who’s ever seen a high-school movie. Nerdy kids are relentlessly picked on by the jock and cheerleader clique. After the bullies face a minor pushback from staff, they decide to make the nerds’ lives a living hell. One of them, Nancy, cries out for help, and it’s Satan himself who answers the call.

Hellish Good Fun

This show knows its genre and revels in it. It’s a comedy-horror where prosthetic heads, arms, and other body parts are cheerfully tossed around the stage. While there are moments of gore, the tone is firmly tongue-in-cheek. During the performance I saw, a young person in the front row did curl up on their chair, but it seemed less an act of shock and more a sensible move to get some distance from the gleeful carnage.

The story pits the satanically empowered Nancy against her “Christian-fearing” bullies. Frankly, it’s hard not to be on Team Devil. The popular kids represent a stifling status quo, and their comeuppance, while bloody, feels like a righteous and explosive release. This isn’t a subtle morality play; it’s a full-throated celebration of revenge, and it’s devilishly entertaining.

High-Voltage Performance

The cast of around half a dozen performers is phenomenal. The energy required to sing this well while leaping around the stage in leotards is hugely impressive. The songs, which are all original, are powerful and catchy, avoiding the easy trap of simply covering 80s pop hits. This choice gives the show its own distinct and memorable identity.

While many of the characters brandish musical instruments, the actors don’t appear to be playing them live. This is perfectly fine; expecting them to be triple-threats – actors, singers, and musicians – might be pushing it. There were some minor microphone crackles on the night, but this is almost part and parcel of such a physical show and did little to detract from the powerhouse performances. The symbolism of a particular pink recorder is an amusingly bizarre touch.

Overall

I Was a Teenage She-Devil was a surprise hit for me. I took a chance on it as a late-night wildcard, and I’m so glad I did. It’s a fantastically fun show that had the audience grinning from ear to ear. I watched several people buy tickets at the door after simply hearing the premise, and they were not disappointed. If you’re out late and looking for a blast of campy, gory, rock-and-roll theatre, you should absolutely give this a go.