An energetic, heartfelt and thoroughly entertaining opening night that celebrates talent, ambition and the power of performing.
There is something rather special about opening night at a local theatre. The anticipation, the buzz in the auditorium and the knowledge that a cast and crew have poured so much time and effort into bringing a production to life all contribute to the occasion. At the Cryer Arts Theatre in Carshalton, Banstead Musical Theatre (BMT) delivered a production of Fame that had the audience thoroughly entertained, emotionally engaged and, by the finale, ready to get up and dance.
From its high energy choreography to its powerful vocals and heartfelt moments, this was a production bursting with enthusiasm and talent. With the remaining performances sold out, it is clear that BMT has a winning show on its hands.
Based on the lives of students at New York’s High School of Performing Arts, Fame follows a group of young people pursuing their dreams of success in the worlds of music, dance and acting. Along the way, they face the challenges of growing up, the pressure to succeed, complicated relationships and the realisation that talent alone is not always enough. It is a story about ambition, friendship, sacrifice and discovering who you are, and BMT captured the spirit of that journey beautifully.
The Cryer Arts Theatre may be an intimate venue, but that only added to the excitement of the evening. There was a real buzz in the auditorium, with an audience ready to be entertained and a cast seemingly eager to give everything they had.
Under the direction of Zak Negri, the production moved smoothly from scene to scene, maintaining a good sense of momentum while allowing the more emotional moments to breathe. The storytelling felt cohesive, and the contrast between the excitement of pursuing a dream and the difficulties that come with it was handled with warmth.
One of the production’s strengths was its simplicity. Rather than relying on elaborate scenery, the staging made excellent use of the space available. The minimalist approach was effective, allowing the performers to take centre stage and ensuring that the focus remained firmly on the characters and their stories. The cast also helped make the transitions between scenes feel natural, bringing props and chairs onto the stage themselves. This practical approach kept the action moving and demonstrated how staging can be just as effective as a more elaborate set.
Vocally, this was a strong company, with plenty of energy and some genuinely impressive performances. The ensemble numbers had impact, while the individual songs provided opportunities for the characters to shine.
Maddie Hope Coelho as Carmen Diaz was a particular highlight. Carmen is an ambitious, determined character who wants success on her own terms, and Coelho brought plenty of energy to the role. Her performance in “There She Goes/Fame” was one of the evening’s standout moments, combining upbeat vocals, infectious energy and fantastic choreography. It captured the excitement and ambition at the heart of the musical and was a wonderful showcase for both the performer and the production team.
Another vocal highlight came from Emma Dixon as Miss Sherman. Her performance of “These Are My Children” was phenomenal vocally, providing a powerful and emotionally resonant moment. It served as a reminder that beneath the dancing, ambition and youthful exuberance, Fame has a great deal to say about the relationships between teachers and students, and the responsibility that comes with helping young people find their way.
Tyrone Haywood took on the role of Tyrone Jackson, bringing another burst of youthful energy. His performance contributed to the production’s lively atmosphere, helping capture the passion and determination that run throughout the show.
Angie Schultz’s casting as Schlomo Metzenbaum was an especially interesting and successful choice. Schlomo is traditionally played by a male performer, but BMT chose to cast the role as female, and it worked remarkably well. Rather than feeling like a distraction from the story, the choice brought its own character and dynamic to the production. The relationship between Carmen and Schlomo was particularly enjoyable to watch. Their connection added another layer to the story, and the chemistry between the characters helped make their interactions engaging. It was a reminder that thoughtful casting choices can bring a fresh perspective to a familiar musical.
Georgie Glover as Serena Katz and Oliver McLaughlin as Nick Piazza made a lovely pairing, with both performers delivering strong vocals and sharing a believable chemistry on stage. Their performances brought warmth and sincerity to the relationship, making their scenes together engaging and giving the audience a couple to root for. Vocally, both were impressive, bringing clarity and feeling to their performances, while their natural connection helped make the romantic storyline feel genuine.
The adult characters were equally important in grounding the story. Emma Andrews appeared as Miss Bell, Rich Brown as Mr Myers and Paul Bullock as Mr Sheinkopf. Alongside Emma Dixon’s Miss Sherman, they helped establish the world in which these young performers are learning, growing and trying to find their place.
Choreographers Amanda Dibble and Emma Bullock did a fantastic job of creating movement that was full of life and suited the musical’s demanding, high-energy style. The routines made excellent use of the stage, with the performers bringing commitment and enthusiasm to the dancing. The ensemble was a particular asset here. Their high impact movement and confident execution (hello classic Fame jump) gave the larger numbers real scale, helping to fill the auditorium with the feeling of a much bigger production. The ensembles contribution went beyond the dancing, too. Their vocals added depth and strength to the choruses, creating a fuller sound and helping the ensemble numbers land with real impact.
Musical direction from Emma Dixon helped underpin the production’s strong vocal performances and emotional range. The show flowed well, and the music provided both the driving force behind the energetic sequences and the support needed for its more reflective moments. The live band was another major strength. Gareth Alber led the band from the keys, joined by Gregor Thompson on drums and percussion and Angel Paz on guitar. Together, they brought energy and drive to the performance, helping the musical numbers feel alive and maintaining the momentum throughout the evening.
For all its infectious energy, Fame works best when it balances the spectacle with genuine feeling. BMT found that balance particularly well in “Bring on Tomorrow”, performed by the entire company. Beautifully emotional, the number brought the cast together in a moment that felt heartfelt and uplifting. After the excitement and challenges of the characters’ journeys, it offered a powerful reminder of the friendships and shared dreams that hold them together. It was one of those moments when the strength of the ensemble becomes particularly apparent and you could hear a pin drop. The production was not simply about individual performers having their moment in the spotlight; it was about a company working together to tell a story.
That sense of togetherness carried through to the finale. The ending was upbeat, celebratory and full of energy, with cast members coming into the audience and helping to break down the barrier between stage and auditorium. Audience members even got up to dance alongside the performers, creating a wonderfully joyful atmosphere. It was a fantastic way to finish the evening. Rather than simply bringing the story to a close, the finale turned into a shared celebration between the cast and the people who had come to watch them. It was difficult not to leave with a smile.
A production like Fame takes far more than the performers on stage to bring it all together, and BMT’s backstage and technical teams deserve plenty of credit for helping make opening night such a success.
No production can shine without the brilliance of it’s backstage crew, and the team from SWAT deserve particular recognition for their work behind the scenes. Keeping a live production running smoothly requires careful coordination, concentration and excellent communication, often without the audience ever realising how much is happening backstage. With the show flowing so seamlessly between scenes, their contribution was an important part of what made the evening such an enjoyable experience.
Ben Hornsburgh’s lighting contributed to the technical picture, while Sam Tullett was responsible for sound. Bernie Davies handled props, helping ensure that the practical details supporting the action were in place. The backstage team’s work was impressive, and the smooth progression between scenes reflected the collective effort involved in making everything happen.
BMT should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved with Fame. From the talented cast and dedicated creatives to the musicians, stage management, technical team and backstage crew, everyone has played their part in creating a fantastic production that left the audience buzzing. The energy, teamwork and passion on display made opening night a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and it was wonderful to see the audience so caught up in the excitement of it all.
With the entire run now sold out, a huge congratulations to everyone involved. A fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work, commitment and talent that has gone into bringing this production to life. Every member of the company should be proud of what they have accomplished.
