There's something special about youth theatre. It's something that I have been passionate about since I was young and in shows myself. To see young talent being nurtured by brilliant creatives and coming together to create spellbinding shows is something absolutely wonderful. BIGLITTLE Theatre School are just one of those brilliant schools in the Bournemouth area to grow and develop talented individuals that belong on the stage. 

2024 marks another year of their Broadway Showtunes showcases. A medley of songs and shows that are familiar and new, brought together by an impressive cast of over 160 young people. And Mamma Mia was it a show to enjoy! 

The show tells the story of a new world through the journey of a boy. As he wakes up to find that not everything is quite as it seems, the world around him bursts into song (and tap dancing) and sends him on a journey like no other. Each show woven into the next making you feel like you were being transported to different places throughout the evening. With shows including The Jungle Book, Annie, Jagged Little Pill, and Groundhog Day, there was something for every audience member to enjoy. 

The cast is led by Ollie Owen as the young boy (amongst other characters!) and the rest of the Professional Development Programme, an intensive musical theatre company that helps train you for the professional world throughout years 12 and 13. Joining Ollie was a team of incredible performers that showcased talent that Broadway and the West End will be begging for in a matter of years. From Hannah Ironside and Olivia Morgan's Jesus and Judas in the incredibly powerful Jesus Christ Superstar section, to the stripped back (yet brilliant) performances by Abby Grindey, Oli McKinnon-Wardell, Sienna Lawrence, and Harry Shaw in the song 'Nine People's Favourite Thing'. You can tell that these young adults work tirelessly to create the most professional and poised performances that will rival any current West End cast member. The stamina that these performers have as they throw themselves into the majority of the show is testament to their dedication to their craft. A huge round of applause to them. 

The rest of the cast is just as brilliant. With the youngest performers (Footlights) taking on Annie and The Jungle Book without any assistance from the older groups. The talent from these pint sized stars is nothing but show stopping with precise footwork and heartwarming performances. Each soloist belted their numbers with confidence that most of us adults could only dream of and left me in absolute awe of their stage presence and emerging talent. Whilst the middle team (Limelights) brought the house down with The Greatest Showman and Me and My Girl. Both scenes showing a perfect blend of humour, talent, and energy that is needed in big hitting musicals. I honestly wish I could bottle up the energy as it was nothing short of electric. 

The Starlights team rounded off the company and showcased shows such as the dramatic Jekyll and Hyde and the hilarious Kiss me Kate. I loved the burst of humour that the Kiss Me Kate section gave the show and each performer was entertaining and brilliant. As every Broadway Showtunes goes, there was plenty of opportunities for the teams to work together and create big show stopping numbers such as the brilliant Mamma Mia medley at the end (I'm still not an Abba fan, but I did thoroughly enjoy it!). However the stand out had to be 'Everybody Ought To Have A Maid' which brought together every boy from Footlights to PDP to create a brilliantly glitzy and laugh out loud funny penultimate scene that was one of the highlights of the whole show. 

From costumes to staging and choreography. Each part of the show was perfectly professional in a way that most West End theatres could only dream of. Each performer and backstage member truly shows what a dedication that have to their craft and the smiles on their faces in the closing number shows just how much fun each young person had on that stage. 

BIGLITTLE seem to have cracked the youth musical theatre formula and not only do they create show after show that is full of some of the best local talent, they also prove that youth musical theatre can truly rival the big professional shows that you may see in London or New York. It's a spectacular celebration of all things musical theatre put together into a show that speaks to all. The talent on the stage somehow gets better year on year and I can't wait to see what some of these fantastic young individuals will get up to in the future. Want a truly special show that is crammed full of incredible talent? You've come to the right place. 

For tickets : Broadway Showtunes