MTB Showcase 2024: Highlights from each performance if you missed it this year

Last week, Musical Theatre Bristol performed their annual showcase. It consisted of six mini musicals: Beauty and The Beast, Little Women, Wicked, Cabaret, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Anastasia.

Every performance stood out in its own distinct way, and with great variation, all audience members were catered for. It would be impossible to praise all of the talented performers individually, with levels of engagement rife, it is wonderful to see so many people involved in the society. Alongside the performers, the talented orchestra and backstage crew did not go unnoticed in their efforts to bring each performance alive.

The showcase concept works exceptionally well, especially for our terrible attention spans. You also get a taster of six different musicals so you know what to book next time you’re going to the West End. But for the society, a showcase opens up an abundance of parts for those auditioning, allowing many the chance to have solos and their on-stage moment which isn’t always possible in a single production.

Here are my personal highlights of each musical, in case you didn’t get the chance to go this year:

Beauty and The Beast

Beginning the showcase with a classic was a great move, with the opening song Belle creating an immediate playful atmosphere on stage.

Lily Robinson’s performance as Belle was effortless with angelic vocals – giving full Disney princess energy.

An absolute stand out was Evanthe Gee as Lumiere – their exaggerated and comedic performance was perfect as the iconic character and the costume was genius and instantly recognisable.

Fiki Meeham, who played Gaston, had fun with the character, incapsulating the arrogance and delusion of the antagonist in his little Gaston interlude.

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I have to say, the harmonies in Beauty and The Beast were beautiful – the full company singing at the end was an amazing way to end the first show.

Little Women

I have to say, this was my favourite of the six shows, but I am slightly biased as I adore the songs in Little Women. I loved how intimate this one was, with only six actors, it felt perfect for the tightly bound family in Little Women.

Lily Sutcliffe as Jo March was perfection. She was utterly mesmerising with her beautiful vocals and her delivery of the show’s most iconic lines meant there was not a dry eye was left in the Winston.

Beth March, played by Mhairi Simpson was vocally divine, in the number Some Things Are Meant to Be I was blown away by her soft but powerful voice.

Joe Crosbie, who played Laurie and Lauren Somerville, who played Amy March, were a great witty duo and brought light to the sombre show in their performance of the song The Most Amazing Thing.

Modge Tait, who played Marmee, brought a comfort to the stage and her vocal performance was strong and instantly moving.

Zara Connoley was beautiful to watch on stage with stunning vocals and a perfectly mischievous, playful persona in the playful song I’d Be Delighted.

Wicked

Let’s just say Defying Gravity was more than a highlight – Jasmine Sakpoba’s vocals as Elphaba were so impressive. With such a vocally demanding role, I had apprehensions before the show, but as soon as Jasmine sang for the first time I was instantly put at ease.

The performance was a real crowd pleaser with Wicked’s phenomenal sound track hard to not enjoy.

The ensemble was incredibly energetic and gave great reactions during the initial rivalry between Elphaba and Glinda in the number What Is This Feeling?

Popular was a standout – Glinda, played by Lucy Tytherleigh, perfected the high-pitched squeals and exaggerated excitement of her character.

A definite standout was James Tudor as The Wizard. He was perfectly arrogant and patronising while providing us with the comedic edge possible to play up with the part of The Wizard.

Cabaret

Cabaret was full of incredible talent – I was especially impressed with the choreography and abilities of the dancers.

Emcee, played by Stan Abbott-Stacey, commanded the stage and was mesmerising to watch. I think Stan’s performance was one of the most memorable of the night.

Along with dance, I loved the focus on acting within this piece – the storyline was very clear and the back and fourth dialogue throughout gave more acting based performers a chance to shine.

As always, Phoebe Taylor, was astounding as Sally Bowles. Not only are her vocals beautiful, but she has one of the best performing qualities – genuinely a skill that cannot be taught.

Cabaret was sexy, entrancing and a real contrast to the other shows – a definite favourite.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

For some reason, I didn’t think the The legend of Loco Chanel would feature in the mini production of Jamie but luckily I was wrong! Finley Carty-Howe was superb in this role, which is definitely a challenge with such an intense story to tell through song. The drag queens during this number were absolutely iconic and hilarious.

Oshi Hopson was superb as Jamie, with a brilliant voice which perfectly harmonised with Hattie Millard, who played his amazing mother, Margaret.

I loved the focus on the mother/son relationship with He’s My Boy encouraging tears throughout the theatre.

Jamie was incredibly heartwarming and the audience boogied along at the prom too.

Anastasia

The ensemble really stood out to me in this production – I loved the opening sequence of A Rumour in St. Petersburg.

Marcia MacSween was the perfect princess, with the audience gasping when she entered in her ballgown and tiara.

Dmitri (George Dickson), Gleb (Henry Bush) and Vlad (Owen Perry) were extremely strong in this production with great vocals and scheming personas until Dmitri falls in love with Anya – their brewing affection was perfectly subtle and exciting.

I wasn’t expecting a ballet performance to arise – this was extremely impressive and clever to have the ballet actually played out, a great touch by the director.

Images via Tiago Arnell and Phaedra Trick Avdi