“We Love Musicals 2019” by Nottingham Arts Theatre Summer School
Nottingham Arts Theatre Studio

You know me, I love musicals, so when I was invited down to review week 2 of the Nottingham Arts Theatre Summer School sessions, finding out that this week they would be learning and performing songs from the musicals, well, I was there like a shot!

Last week was such a success, it was a sell-out, with Summer School staff having to hunt out additional seats for folks to sit on.

This week it was back in the main auditorium and we got to see the gorgeous new seats and carpets and sink into them - the seats, not the carpets. The seats are so comfortable and chunky though, you may find giving a standing ovation may take a little longer to get up, or maybe that's just my age and waistline holding me back!

The scheme is run for three weeks during the holidays and the children start on Monday, and by Friday evening they are presenting what they have learned throughout the week; no easy task.

This week, I don't know how they learned everything we saw tonight in just four and a bit days. Nine different musicals and 34 children from the age of eight years' old presented a wonderfully entertaining evening, and the energy these kids have is enough to light up the National Grid.

Music from The Greatest Showman, Shrek, Hairspray, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Blood Brothers, The Addams Family and Seussical.

There are some brilliant ensemble pieces and equally some brilliant solos, duets and group work from the three groups, and you can see that every single child on that stage had worked immensely hard for our entertainment, as well as their enjoyment. How do I know that? Because I just had to look at their faces to see the joy they radiated.

The Pink Group were Emma, Freddie - great confidence -, Holly, Jenna, Judd - you are a star in the making with your dance skills and characterisation - Lacey, Neave, Sophie D and Sophie K. I wish I had a smidgen of all of your talents.

The Green Group were Ava, Billy, Courtney, Darcey, Dion, Harriett, Isobel, Lucy H, Maisie, Naomi, Scarlett and Sophie B. Again what a talented group of kids.

The Blue Group were Amelia, Carmen - what a lovely performer and so cute - Emily, Harry - another performer with bags of confidence - Jasmina, Josh - I hope that you continue with drama and dance because it looked like you loved being on stage - Libby, Lucy HL, Roland, Tabitha, Thomas and Willow.

It was good to see so many young lads taking part and you know, they gave the girls a run for their money in the dancing stakes. Normally the girls are the more dominant in these Summer schemes but the lads balanced the girls out well in this show.

And of course while massive credit goes to these young performers, the back stage crew and the teachers need to be credited to, especially Rowan Arnold who wanted to be involved in the Summer Scheme but behind the scenes, so good on you Rowan.

I'm not going to list everyone who were in tutor roles, production, sound and light because they know what a great job they did this week, because the proof was there on stage. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, well we ate like kings tonight, thanks to a group of amazing chefs.

Everyone of these kids have the ability to become local theatre stars with a start like they have had this week, and I hope that they keep it up. I've seen so many local actors start from beginnings like this and end up on the London stages and in touring productions.

I've also had the pleasure of reviewing young actors at a local level and then years later reviewing them on tour in productions; and it always gives me the greatest of pleasure to say that I was there to experience their initial steps into the wonderful world of theatre.