THE cast of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World burst onto the stage at MAST Mayflower studios yesterday evening in a high energy pop musical which kept the audience tapping along until the end.

Co-produced by Six’s Kenny Wax with MAST Mayflower Studios, and written by dramatist Chris Bush, the stage adaptation of Kate Pankhurst’s award-winning picture book features music by chart-topping songwriter Miranda Cooper.

10-year-old Jade is having trouble adapting to the possibility of her parents’ upcoming divorce and, during a school visit to her local museum, she breaks away from her class to take a peek behind the scenes at the not yet open Gallery of Greatness.

Daily Echo:

Along her journey she meets a series of incredible women, including Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie and Emmeline Pankhurst, a distant relative of Kate.

Jade is played by Eva-Marie Saffrey and she turns in a mesmerising performance that is beyond her tender years, and the casting of Christina Modestou, Renée Lamb, Frances Mayli McCann, Jade Kennedy and Shakira Simpson ensure that both the acting and vocals are strong in this stage production.

Special mention has to go Renée Lamb’s performance as Rosa Parks, which saw the audience reflect on how much the world has changed, and yet at other times it seems as if it hasn’t really changed at all. And, her version of Lullaby Little Girl was the song of the show for me.

Daily Echo:

In short, this is a family-friendly, feel good show that will keep adults and children entertained throughout with its high tempo music and dance scenes that accompany an inspirational storyline.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World runs until Saturday (November 20. Tickets from mayflowerstudios.org.uk or 02380 711833.