Pet Shop Boys reviews: Pop pioneers go back west for spectacular London show

Andre Paine26 July 2018

“We may be in the Royal Opera House in London but we’re just pop kids,” announced Neil Tennant at the opening show of Pet Shop Boys’ four-night residency.

Pop kids of all ages were soon out of their £110 seats and dancing for the duration of this dizzying performance, staged by designer Es Devlin and choreographer Lynne Page.

The Inner Sanctum production first appeared at this venue two years ago, and it’s lost none of its quirky charm. At one point, the stage was filled with dancers in inflatable costumes marching comically to Go West.

A willingness to explore all the possibilities of pop has helped Pet Shop Boys endure for more than 30 years.

While a Royal Opera House show might lead you to expect one of their more highfalutin projects, it’s actually just a lot of fun with a generous selection of hits and an array of bizarre headgear.

When he emerged from a rotating white orb, keyboard player Chris Lowe’s head was encased in a lattice design that hinted at his natural reserve.

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1/10

Tennant, who has just turned 64, was a more upbeat presence, though he’s never been a classic frontman.

Ultimately, it was the combination of throbbing electronic music, the barrage of lasers and eye-popping visuals on a giant backdrop that created this immersive yet intimate spectacle. Several songs from their last couple of albums earned their place, including sumptuous club tune Inside A Dream and The Dictator Decides, for which Tennant donned a militaristic outfit. West End Girls, featuring mysterious silver-clad figures on stage, was a chance for fans to sing as well as dance.

But the real joy of this performance was Lowe’s sensitive reworking of old favourites, including a slow-burning Love Comes Quickly, a poignant Left To My Own Devices and a sturdier take on Domino Dancing.

“There are so many to choose from,” said Tennant of their back catalogue. One of Britain’s greatest pop duos, Pet Shop Boys were at their playful best with this hit-filled extravaganza.

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