"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Loughborough Town Hall"

Tuesday 20th January 2026

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"

CTC | BrightLights Theatre School

Loughborough Town Hall

5 Stars

From the moment you walk into the auditorium, you are already part of the magic. The first thing you see is the famous Chitty car, styled in beautiful old-fashioned detail and placed in a petrol station setting. Before a single note is played or a word is spoken, the production has already pulled you into its world making it the perfect choice as my first show of the year to review.

From the very first note of the overture to the final bow, this production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a celebration of everything theatre should be: magical, joyful, emotional, funny and full of heart. It was a show that didn’t just entertain it completely pulled the audience into its world and refused to let go until the very end.

The story follows inventor Caractacus Potts, his two children and his father, Grandpa Potts. When Caractacus rescues an old racing car from being sold for scrap, he restores it into something truly extraordinary a car with the power to float on water and soar through the sky. What begins as a simple act of kindness and creativity soon turns into something much bigger when news of the magical car reaches the rulers of Vulgaria. The Baron and Baroness, desperate to claim it for themselves, send their two hopelessly clumsy spies to track it down, setting the stage for an adventure filled with imagination, humour and excitement.

Ben Burgess as Caractacus Potts completely carried the heart of the show. From his first entrance, he filled the stage with warmth and personality. What stood out most was how relaxed and natural he felt in the role you could tell he was genuinely enjoying every moment. He showed Potts as more than just an inventor he showed him as a dad who lives for his children. His interactions with them were full of small and honest details that made their relationship feel real. His interaction with the children was absolutely fantastic, full of warmth, natural chemistry and genuine emotion that made their family bond feel completely real.

Duncan Gadsby as Grandpa Potts was a delight from the moment he stepped on stage. He captured the eccentric spirit of the character perfectly quirky without being silly and funny without trying too hard. His physical comedy was excellent and his timing was spot on. His performance brought a sense of classic theatre magic, especially in moments involving flight, which were met with gasps and applause from the audience.

Jeremy and Jemima Potts were played by Team Truly, George Consterdine and Lily Cain. They were a joy to watch bringing great confidence energy and charm to the stage. Their acting felt natural. Their singing was clear and their movement was full of life. The vocals and choreography were outstanding and they handled both with confidence and style. They worked beautifully together and with the rest of the cast, making the family scenes feel warm, believable and full of heart. They were absolutely enjoying themselves and their constant smiles throughout the show showed just how much fun they were having on stage.

Anja Zeman as Truly Scrumptious was a joy to watch and listen to. Her vocals were absolutely beautiful crystal clear, expressive and full of emotion. She brought elegance, warmth and gentle humour to the role, making the character both charming and believable. Her scenes had a magical quality, especially in the softer musical moments, where she held the audience completely still. Her chemistry with Ben Burgess was excellent and one of the standout moments of the show was her solo performance of “Truly Scrumptious,” which was sung with confidence, control and real feeling.

Jonathan Penton and Gemma Farnell as Baron and Baroness Bomburst were pure comedy gold. From their first entrance they had the audience laughing and every scene they appeared in lifted the energy of the show. Their accents, physical comedy, facial expressions and timing were all spot on showing great control and confidence in their performances. They played their characters with just the right level of exaggeration big enough to be funny but never messy or overdone. Every look, gesture and line delivery was carefully judged making each of their scenes not only hilarious but also completely memorable.

Jonathan was almost unrecognisable in this role, which is a real credit to both the design and his performance. Having seen him in previous productions, it was a pleasure to see such a complete transformation it really shows the magic of theatre. He fitted the character perfectly and brought something fresh and exciting to the role.

Hannah Osgood brought something truly special to the role of the Child Catcher. From her first appearance she instantly changed the atmosphere on stage, creating a sense of tension that the audience could feel. Her movement was carefully controlled and every step, gesture, and turn of the head added to the mystery and danger of the character.
What made her performance stand out was the balance between fear and fascination. She didn’t just try to be scary she made the character interesting. Her voice work was strong and clear, helping to shape the Child Catcher into someone you wanted to watch, even while feeling uneasy. It was the kind of performance that shows real understanding of character, and she handled it with confidence and skill. She turned a dark role into a memorable and powerful part of the show.

Boris and Goran were played by Jarrod Makin and Isaac Banda. They brought steady energy to their roles and worked well together on stage. Their scenes added light humour to the show, and they supported the story without trying to steal focus. Their characters were clear, their timing was solid, and they played their roles with confidence and enjoyment.

Al Jordan as the Toymaker was a real joy to watch. He fully stepped into the character, making him feel playful, strange and full of personality. From his voice to his movements, everything was carefully chosen and clearly thought through. He didn’t just play the role he brought it to life in his own way.

His performance had a classic, storybook quality that fitted the world of the show perfectly. The way he looked, moved, and spoke made the Toymaker instantly recognisable and memorable and every scene he was in felt richer because of his presence.

The ensembles were made up of Ashley Bright, Daisy Bright, Alison Darlow-Carter, Maddie Dunstan, Guy French, Nicky Highnett, Paul Marriott, Amy McMurray, Laura Moore, Jonah Robinson, Julie Robinson, Jayne Sanderson, Naomi Sandford, Millie Stapleford and Laura Tindle were fantastic throughout the show.

Every group number was full of energy, colour, and life and you could tell how much work had gone into making each scene look polished and exciting. They supported the main cast brilliantly, helping to create a busy and magical world on stage. Whether dancing, singing, or acting in the background, they gave 100% in every moment and played a huge part in making the show feel big, lively and unforgettable.

The children’s ensemble were split into two teams. Team Truly and Team Scrumptious and both teams were outstanding.

Team Truly consisted of George Consterdine, Lily Cain, Rio Hatcher, Caleb Johnston, Lyla McMurray, Arla-Rae Neale, Darcey Peaty, Edie Peaty, Izzy Jewitt, Izzy Murray, Amelia Rees and Abigail Rundle-Brown brought huge energy and excitement to the stage. Their confidence, big smiles, and strong teamwork made every group scene feel alive and joyful.

Team Scrumptious consisted of Henry Lansley, Amellie Vickers, Ezra Hensley-Sarkar, Riley Bailey, Evie Robinson, Esmae-Rose Goodwin, Isabelle Clarke, Ell-J Thurman, Rosy Allen, Ruby Davenport, Lilian McFerran and Brooke Wingfield were just as impressive. They performed with confidence, enthusiasm and great teamwork, filling the stage with colour and movement.

Both teams worked incredibly hard and should be very proud of themselves. Their performances added so much fun, energy and magic to the show. They were a huge part of what made the production feel so lively and special.

Directed by Nick Sutcliffe, the production was shaped by a clear, confident and creative vision. From the moment the audience entered the auditorium, it was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into how the story would be told. Every scene felt carefully planned, with smooth transitions and strong storytelling that kept the show flowing naturally.

Nick made excellent use of the space, ensuring the stage always felt alive without ever feeling crowded. Each character had a purpose. Whether they were a lead role or part of the ensemble and everyone was given moments to shine. The balance between comedy, emotion, action and magic was handled beautifully, showing strong understanding of the show and its tone.

The way the cast worked together showed how well they had been guided. Group scenes were tight and energetic. While quieter moments were given space to breathe and feel emotional.

The direction allowed the audience to connect with the characters and care about what was happening on stage. Nick Sutcliff’s work helped turn this production into a joyful, exciting and memorable piece of theatre that clearly came from strong leadership and creative passion.

Choreographed by Frankie Johnson, the movement in this production was full of energy, style and variety. Every dance number felt exciting to watch, with clear shapes, strong timing and great use of the whole stage. The choreography suited each song perfectly lively and fun in the big ensemble numbers and softer and more gentle in the quieter moments.

What stood out most was how well the choreography worked for such a large cast, especially with the limited stage space they had. The spacing was just right, never feeling crowded or messy and every performer knew exactly where they needed to be. The routines looked clean, confident, and well rehearsed, showing how much work had gone into them. Overall, the musical numbers were absolutely outstanding and the choreography played a huge part in making the show so exciting and memorable.

The Musical Director Vicki Hing, deserves huge praise for the incredible standard of music throughout the show. Under her direction, the cast and band sounded confident, balanced and full of energy from start to finish. The vocals were well supported, harmonies blended beautifully and every song felt polished and exciting.

The band for this production were truly amazing and deserve huge credit for the quality of music throughout the show. 

The musicians were:

Keyboard: Gareth Wynne
Keyboard 2: Alex Lamb 
Alto Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo: Judith Johnson
Oboe, Cor Anglais: Rosie Curtis
Bb & Eb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute: Rebecca Bailey
Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn: Phil Reckless
Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn: Ian Taylor
Horn: Lilla Di Miceli
Trombone: Becky Cook
Electric & Acoustic Bass: Graham Johnson
Drums/Percussion: Richard Dry
Percussion: Helen Shelton

Every instrument blended beautifully, creating a rich, full sound that lifted the whole show. Even though the band were hidden away, you could feel their energy through the music. The timing was tight, the balance was perfect, and the sound quality was excellent from start to finish. They didn’t just support the singers they added excitement, emotion and power to every scene and they were a huge part of what made the show so special.

The show is filled with brilliant songs that really bring the story to life. From fun, upbeat numbers like Them Three, Toot Sweet, Me Ol’ Bamboo, and Posh, to the softer, more emotional moments in Hushabye Mountain, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Truly Scrumptious is full of charm, and of course the title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a huge favourite that gets everyone smiling. Every song adds something special to the show and keeps the energy high from start to finish.

The lighting design by James Cladingboel was outstanding and helped shape every scene. His lighting created the right mood at the right time, from bright and joyful moments to darker, more dramatic scenes. It highlighted key characters and special moments perfectly and added to the magical feel of the production.

The sound design by David Phillips was phenomenal. Every cue was perfectly timed, there were no mistakes, and every word and note could be heard clearly. The balance between voices and music was spot on, making the whole show easy to follow and a real pleasure to listen to.

The follow spot work by Ben Bradshaw and Laura Hambleton was excellent. They kept performers perfectly lit at all times, even in fast-moving scenes and big group numbers. Their timing was spot on, and their work helped make sure the audience never missed a moment, adding to the smooth and professional feel of the production.

Wig hire was provided by leedham_wigs, the wigs were fantastic. Each character’s hair suited their personality and style perfectly, helping complete the look alongside the costumes and makeup. Together, the cloth and wigs added to the strong visual magic of the production and made the stage pictures feel rich, colourful and full of character.

The set design and car hire were provided by ChittyHire.com and they did an incredible job bringing the world of the show to life. The set was detailed, imaginative and perfectly matched the style of the story. Each scene felt carefully designed, with staging that helped the story flow smoothly and clearly.

The cloth for the production was provided by Scenic Projects, and it added so much to the overall look of the show. The backdrops and stage cloths helped create different worlds and moods, making each scene feel clear and visually exciting.

The famous car itself looked amazing on stage and was a real show stopper. It wasn’t just a prop it felt like a character in its own right. And of course, I can’t finish without mentioning the famous car. Without spoiling the surprise, let’s just say the way Chitty is brought to life on stage is pure theatre magic. The moment it happens, you can hear the audience gasp, and it becomes one of those unforgettable moments that reminds you why live theatre is so special.

I’ve given this production 5 stars because it delivers on every level. The cast were strong and believable, the music was powerful and clear, the choreography was exciting and the technical side lighting, sound, set, costumes and effects was all of a very high standard. 

Every part of the show worked together to create something joyful, magical, and memorable. It made me laugh, smile, and feel completely absorbed from start to finish, which is exactly what great theatre should do.

Make sure you grab your tickets now, because this is not a show you want to miss. It is truly phenomenal and a real treat for all ages.

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is at the Loughborough Town Hall until Saturday 24th January 2026.