BIGLITTLE Theatre School 
Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth
Carole Gadsby 
17 July 2025
What an absolute joy it was to watch this latest production from BIGLITTLE Theatre School. From start to finish, the energy on stage was nothing short of phenomenal. This annual production takes the audience on a whirlwind journey, fast and furious through a range of shows giving the extremely talented young people a chance to shine, and they certainly did shine. WOW, what a fantastic opening number showcasing the whole company – Mary Poppins, from the magic of the lamp to the fast and furious dance routines. The chimney sweeps were a delight to watch with their obvious talent, vitality and enthusiasm, using the stage as their tool to tell the story.
The Professional Development Programme saw very talented mature young people doing what they love the most with professionalism, passion and complete confidence. I loved Hello Dolly but my particular favourite was Mrs Henderson Presents. I have always loved this true story of the Windmill Theatre set in the 1930s with its catchy tunes and backstage dramas, such a heartwarming story which PDP managed to recreate with expertise and panache.
Footlights shone with their energy and love of Musical Theatre, Summer Holiday was full of fun and frivolity whilst Calamity Jane was a pleasure to watch with their American accents and obvious enthusiasm for this well loved musical.
Limelights, just a bit more mature but still delivering the same quality of performance. Pajama Game, an old but great musical was enjoyed thoroughly by all the performers and audience alike. Our House was, I thought, a wonderful performance using the music of Madness to tell the story of being a teenager in London in a working class neighbourhood.
Starlights gave a great performance of On The Town featuring ‘New York, New York’, but my favourite was Rent which I thought was spectacular, the choreography and staging plus adding the sign language to the performance gave the finishing touch to this musical.
The attention to detail in both costumes and staging was truly impressive – each scene was vibrant and visually stunning, creating an immersive experience that brought every musical moment to life. The creativity and professionalism behind the production were evident in every element, from the seamless transitions to the thoughtful choreography.
Most importantly, the performers’ passion shone through in every note and every movement, making it impossible not to smile throughout the show. This is youth theatre at its finest – full of heart, talent, and pure joy.
This company showcased an incredible mix of musical numbers, highlighting the talent and enthusiasm of performers across a wide range of ages. From the littlest member in Footlights to the senior performance of PDP, every single person brought raw passion and enjoyment to the stage. The staging was a feat in itself to bring over 150 performers to the stage in so many numbers and to keep bringing that boundless energy to every number with superb upbeat choreography. Bravo to the entire team for delivering such a spectacular and memorable experience!
The Orchestra lead by Colin Billing and Sam Dando was superb leading the performers in all the numbers.
The finale was again a ‘showstopper’ incorporating the whole company, it was fun, quirky and a wonderful finish to a fantastic show. This annual production is an absolute must, how can this company keep delivering such a quality performance which they manage to ‘top’ every year, a phenomenal production. Well done.
