DIRECTORS Ben Occhipinti and Mark Powell used anecdotes from 140 pages of interviews with past and present cast-members to create a rich tapestry of what makes amateur dramatics companies tick.

Skilfully knitting dialogue together with wellselected show-tunes, the appreciative audience were given an insight into am-dram as an alternative to hum-drum. Including few wellknown Broadway and West End songs, the lesser-known ones ensured that the words carried more weight as a consequence.

In true Hollywood-style, fluridden off-stage chaos necessitated that castmembers be promoted from chorus to lead. Natasha George epitomised this with a last-minute stand-in performance to savour.

With lead vocals generously shared around, the programme picked-out only several soloists, but Dave Simmons, Dave Coxon, Alison Child and Laura Simmons were just a few major talents amongst equals.

The intimate performance space was used effectively, in front of a giant make-up ‘mirror’, with Liz Weager’s four-piece orchestra note-perfect throughout. Loved it!