Rachel Zegler has received rave reviews for her role in Evita which she is performing at the London Palladium in a 12-week stint.
Described as “an absolute smash” by The Standard and “thrilling” by The i, the American actress and her co-stars are welcoming an overwhelmingly positive response to the energetic show.
Directed by Jamie Lloyd, the show boasts a star-studded cast, with Zegler joined by talents like Diego Andres Rodriguez as Che, James Olivas as Juan Perón, Aaron Lee Lambert as Agustin Magaldi, and Bella Brown as The Mistress.
Officially launched on July 1 following previews, the show will run until September 6, bringing audiences the story of Argentine political leader and icon, Eva Perón, in a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s original musical.
Addressing the opening night on social media, Zegler shared an emotional post in which she spoke about how “special” it was to her and the team.
She wrote: “I never thought I would get to live my dream this way. surrounded by the most amazing people. I feel so held.”
Until September, passers by will also get to see a hint of the show when Zegler takes to a balcony during her performance to sing Don’t Cry for Me Argentina while paying guests watch from a screen.
Here’s everything you need to know about the exciting new show, including how to see Zegler perform for free on the street.
walked past the Palladium at the exact moment Rachel Zegler walked out on to the balcony to sing Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina and boy, that girl can sing. pic.twitter.com/KLlRFGvgxz
— 🍉 Amelia Hockey 🪻 (@AmeliaHockey) June 14, 2025
How to see Rachel Zegler performing Evita on the street
To see the performance of the song for yourself, you’ll need to get yourself down to the front-facing balcony of the Palladium on Argyll Street.
As word spreads about the event, it’ll surely become more and more packed, so be ready to get there early.
Reports from those who have seen Zegler take to the balcony say she comes out at around 9.05pm.
There are barriers to stop people getting too close to the front of the theatre, but you can stand across the street and easily get a good view.
Why is Rachel Zegler taking to the street?
Although neither Zegler nor the creative team working on Evita have given a definite reason for the choice, it comes down to artistic expression.
Supporters of the choice argue that it aligns with the message of the musical itself, which has themes of political expression, public image, and spectacle.
Director Jamie Lloyd is also known to support affordable theatre for young and diverse audiences, so this could be a move to make the performance as accessible as possible, even to those who don’t have tickets.
However, some are criticising the unconventional approach has sparked mixed reactions, arguing that paying for a ticket means you should get a live performance of the most famous song, rather than watching a livestream.
What have people said about the performances?
Fans have been divided over the street performances.
Some have praised the creativity of the staging, while others have expressed frustration at not seeing the scene live - especially after forking out mega money for tickets in the theatre.
“I’m excited to see her, but not sure how I feel about paying that much to watch the most iconic moment on a screen,” wrote one viewer on X.
Another described it as “a bit of a rip off” and said they would have preferred the scene to be staged inside.
Supporters of the decision argue that the outdoor performance reinforces key themes in Evita, such as spectacle, public image and political theatre.
One commenter noted, “It’s meant to be grand and distant. That is the point of Eva’s performance. It fits.”
