I’m always in awe of the standard of entertainment provided by the young performers of Curtain Call Creative – and this show is no exception. Although this production also featured some fantastic adult performers too – they had to be good to be able to hold their own against the children!!

Leading us through the story was Daniel Farmer as Mr Poppy, and from the moment he bounced onstage you knew you were in for a good time – he radiated child-like enthusiasm and determination not to take anything seriously. This is a difficult role to play, and Daniel absolutely smashed it. The audience loved him – and so, clearly, did the children.

Mr Madden, despite being the teacher, ended up very much as Mr Poppy’s sidekick, and David Thorne played up his vulnerable side well, alongside love interest Jennifer, played by Ashleigh Hunt-Davis who brought her beautiful singing vocals to the role. Robert Bingham as the baddie Gordon Shakespeare and Olivia Pike as Headmistress Mrs Bevan, with their combination of rich singing voice and fabulous comedy talent, were both perfectly cast. Amelie Rogers as Miss Rye, Ben Spurling as the suitably sneering critic Patrick Burns, John Woodford as an Irish priest and American impresario and Paul Smith as the Lord Mayor all lent their considerable experience to the show.

But it was really the children’s production, and they were all brilliant! The privately educated Oakmoor students were superior and perfectly co-ordinated in movement as well as uniform, which made the scene in which they fought with St Bernadette’s even funnier. The rock opera scene was hilarious too. The older youngsters formed an ensemble of party guests, parents and so on, and again worked so well together.

As for the children of St Bernadette’s: they were so well choreographed and worked so well as a team; the dedication, effort and talent which has gone into this – both from the young people themselves and the adults who have worked with them in rehearsal – is outstanding. It feels wrong to single any of them out for special praise as they were all so good, but Freddie Nixon as Ollie tore my heart, Polly Careless warmed it while the antics of Jemima Rees as the Star and Max Parkin as Gabriel made me laugh. I won’t mention the special effects except to praise them, or I might spoil the surprise for others…but I reflected that at the age when most children are happy just to take part in their school nativity play, these young talents are already experienced performers in an adult-sized production and theatre.

The set, including back screen to help show where we were in each scene and the use of a few props to provide desks etc enabled swift scene changes and kept up the very lively pace. The live band supported the singing well  and although there were a few first night glitches in lighting, microphones and sound balance, it didn’t mar the enjoyment of the show. Director Tony Wright, Musical Director Andrew Woodford, Choreographer Amy Anderson and the whole Curtain Call team can be very proud of the production they have created.

The talent and sheer hard work of these wonderful young singers, dancers and actors have again produced a dazzling evening of fun, music and laughter, with a few poignant moments, and I can sum up the show no better than in Mrs Bevan’s words: ‘Every single one of these children is amazing’.

‘Nativity – The Musical!’  is at Shanklin Theatre tonight (Friday) and tomorrow afternoon – grab yourself one of the remaining tickets now at https://www.shanklintheatre.com/events/curtain_call_creative_presents_nativity_the_musical/details.aspx