Review: Music Theatre Bristol – Showcase 2025
Music Theatre Bristol’s Showcase 2025 was an enjoyable and entertaining dive into theatrical classics.
It feels like mere weeks since the term began, but here comes the University of Bristol’s student musical theatre company with one of their biggest productions of the year.
Their Showcase 2025, brought together around 100 performers with over 50 students working backstage. A live band comprised of around 20 musicians and conductors. The final effort, on stage at the Winston Theatre this week, reflects just one month of rehearsal. It is an impressive feat.
This year, audiences were treated to a flavour of songs and story from Moulin Rouge, Guys & Dolls, Chicago, Heathers, Comes From Away and Legally Blonde. The carefully curated programme complimented each show so it did not cause tonal clashes.
It was an uplifting programme, met with rigourous enthusiasm from an audience that clapped and cheered its appreciation throughout the night. The company was met with a well-deserved standing ovation at curtain call.
Each section of the show was directed, choreographed and produced by a different team of creatives managing their own cast. The finished show was delivered with military precision under the watch of Stage Managers Andrew Innes and Eabha McBride.
All directors used the full space, both on and off stage of the Winston Theatre, at times, bringing the cast right into the audience.
There were some issues with stage mics on the evening. This meant some shorter solos were missed. This was a little sad, but being the only hitch in a three-hour performance of this scale can be forgiven.
Each section started with a video trailer featuring an aspect of the forthcoming performance. It was filmed and edited by InFilm Bristol and cleverly set the mood for the change in show.
Whilst each piece was enjoyable, Chicago, overall, was outstanding.
The choreography was excellent. The strong ensemble of dancers captured Bob Fosse’s angular chorography with precision, alongside original work in the same style by Izzy How.
A mid show cheer for a dancer in box splits being lifted by dancers’ feet whilst holding the position was well deserved. It was a wow moment.
All That Jazz was enhanced by the lighting, which cast thin black shadows across a house drenched in redden tones. The crew creating these moods were Lighting Designers Chloe Firrell, Issy Walker and Patrick Painter.
Maddie Nash as Roxie Hart, Ollie Binnie as Billy Flynn and Faz Henderson as Velma Kelly knocked it out of the park. Razzle Dazzle being a real show stopper.
As well as some fantastic soloists across the evening, the ensemble for each piece was a strength.
Come From Away was another powerful ensemble piece, adding a touch of emotion to evening.
Heathers as a musical had the biggest fan base, judging by the audience’s reaction. Lauren Shepherdson was a powerhouse as Veronica ahead of the highly anticipated musical number Candy Store, by the suitably caustic Evie Clark as Heather Chandler, with Phoebe Taylor (Heather Duke) and Daisy Bayer (Heather Macnamara).
Coby Granek as Kurt and Sophia Christofi as Ram were the comedy duo that nearly stole the scene.
Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat from Guys and Dolls was another moment of energetic fun. It was led by Esther Harris as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Opening the evening had been Moulin Rouge. Its whirl of colour and energy belying the tragic love story at the heart of the show. Maddi Jabir as Satine, gave a performance reminiscent of female leads in 40’s and 50’s classic movies.
Legally Blonde was a banging way to bring the evening to a close.
Olivia McKenna as Elle Woods had all the energy and delightful vibes you need in this role. It was a perfectly pitched performance.
Tilly Anderson-Smith (Margot), Katie Shallcross (Serena) and Ella Marshall-Pinder (Pilar) gave excellent comic performances. The trio were perfectly cast together, with the fun and light energy spreading across the Greek Chorus. It all brought the show to a cracking end.
Music Theatre Bristol’s Showcase 2025 will be at the Winston Theatre until 01 November 2025
For more information or to book, visit: https://uobtheatre.com/production/showcase-2025
Featured Image: Isabel Rose Hay
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