CHILDREN'S THEATRE REVIEW: All The World's A Stage - The Forum Theatre, Wythenshawe, Manchester.

The young students at Shooting Star Theatre School strutted their stuff this weekend on the stage at Wythenshawe's Forum Theatre for their annual showcase of their work.

Some as young as four years' old - perhaps taking their first tentative steps onto a stage in front of a live audience, gave their all to a room full of appreciative parents, friends and supporters. A total of 95 youngsters graced the stage in a variety of different acts which went from acting scenes from 'James And The Giant Peach' and 'Matilda', to solo and ensemble songs, to various groups showing off what they had learned in their respective dance classes - everything from classical ballet to street dance! there was even a couple of nice routines in there with some impressive lifts, leaps, and tumbles with the acro team.

I do have a couple of things which, as an unbiased audience member, I felt would have helped the presentation along. First, the show was very long. I understand that every group needs to be given their time to shine, but some of the items overstayed their welcome, and some of this time could also easily have been shortened by swifter and better drilled entrances and exits. It was obvious that this part of the presentation at least was under-rehearsed, and the children did not know which side of the stage to exit from. Again, with a little more rehearsal in situ, the dancers would have been able to position themselves centre stage, rather than nearly every number being performed with the vast majority of them on stage right. The use of space, the knowledge of the size of the stage, how far it is from wings to their starting position, and the space needed between dancers was not something that had been considered on these occasions. Sadly the children also had to contend with some microphone issues and tech mishaps which - all credit to them - did not faze them at all.

However, all that being said, the children performed well, and the audience whooped and cheered, encouraging their son or daughter, and this was an enjoyable and joyous event, boosting the young ones' confidence and helping them to develop the requisite skills for a life on the stage.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 15.4.23