SPOTLIGHT 8 – THE SHOWBIZNESS to July 12th 2008

Spotlight 8 - The Showbuziness

Pavilion, Bournemouth
For Young People
10th July to 12th July 2008
Runs 2hrs 30 mins One Interval

www.biglittletheatreschool.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 11th July 2008

The next generation show they know how to entertain.
The Showbuziness, this years end of year showcase for the young people from the Big Little Theatre School, took place over three days at The Pavilion. Always a showcase worth attending, the young Big Little cast are a fine example of the incredible talent of the youths working on the first rungs of a career, if not a life in musical theatre. Only a few will go on towards the next level and for these Big Little include a professional development programme to assist those who are not only exceptionally talented, but also supremely dedicated and already demonstrating a preparedness to work hard towards a profession that demands hard work.

This level of professionalism and commitment is apparent throughout the show; a series of songs and montages from musicals; opening with There’s No Business Like Show Business the entire company, who must number a hundred, parade onto the vast Pavilion stage, rousing from the outset and hinting at the wealth of talent and energy that will make the evening such an event.

Highlights abound but the Sunset Boulevard, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Mack and Mable scenes, which all include elements of the senior group with younger performers and are delivered with such vigour, passion and inspirational verve that it’s easy to forget the cast are all non-professional, rehearsing after school and at week-ends, balancing the extracurricular with the pressures and necessity for traditional academic achievements. The three girls, Emma James, Sophia Handscombe and Charlotte Clitherow, “shaking it” to Gypsy’s Gotta Have A Gimmick demonstrate magnificently some fine comedy talents, along with a little exotic/ballet dancing.

Included in the evening was a brief but brilliant preview of the schools forthcoming production of Just So, which a selection of the cast will be appearing in, in Christchurch, at the end of August.

Rounding the evening out with a selection of very upbeat numbers from Mamma Mia bought the entire company back to the stage and was a final chance to enjoy the sound of the entire chorus filling the theatre. Spotlight is certainly more than a show for friends and family, the young cast and professional creatives have produced another event worthy of a wider audience and have discovered a number of performers who could now and should in the future grace any stage.

Director: Michelle Guy
Choreographer: Lisa Lee
Musical Supervisor: Colin Billing
Musical Directors: Marcus Marriott, Roger Ward
Lighting Designer: Sean Tomkins
Sound Designer: Andy Collins

2008-07-14 17:28:21