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Collaborative efforts see Beast of a performance from BCFP Beauties


With 2022 seeing venues again able to welcome guests through the doors, Blackpool’s Grand Theatre recently played host to a thoroughly enjoyable adaptation of Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast.

With production courtesy of Blackpool and Fylde Children’s Pantomime CIC (BCFP) Theatre School, a group of young, talented, amateur thespians sang, danced and humoured their way through a trio of performances that surely sent home those in attendance very happy indeed.

We are all aware of the story; the love of Belle (played with a wholesome innocence by Ava Parker) eventually cures the cursed Beast and returns him to his true self, with the young heroine also contending with the unwanted advances of village lothario, Franque, and worrying about her eccentric and accident-prone papa. Helped by the well-intentioned Brie and man-eating mother, Dame Nanny, the former (a sweet turn by Ellis Rial) carried out the task of securing audience participation throughout with aplomb, thanks to the crowd’s determination to ensure no one went near his crackers. Ca va? Qui, qui!

Fresh from winning a prestigious scholarship with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bailey Fieldsend frequently had the crowd in the palm of his hand as the aforementioned Dame Nanny. The young star never missing a beat to get a laugh with comic timing as equally impressive as his array of colourful outfits.

It would be unjust not to heap praise on every participant, but almost every show has that one star who shines brightest. And this show’s special mention must go to Theo Heavyside’s brilliant turn as Chandelier. Sorry, Candelabra! While not in every scene, the young man leant his comic weight with an impeccable French accent, hilarious facial expressions, as well as a nod to Elton John’s Your Song. It was more than just ‘a little bit funny.’

They do say never work with animals or small children. Well, this production had a lot of the latter in abundance, and even the most hard-hearted would struggle not to have melted with the very talented and cute groups B, C, F and P illuminating a number of scenes with their smiling and dancing ability that belied their tender years. The rendition of Gummi Bears bringing back a host of childhood memories for many.

Worth noting, none of the above would have been possible, had it not been for the hard work, dedication and direction of Amie Rutherford and her team, not to mention the dozens of parents and other volunteers ever ready to assist with quick changes, make-up and tackling what I have been informed was a considerable number of stairs backstage, several times. The costumes too, all stunning and befitting of the settings of the Grand Theatre.

The group’s next project will be a production of Grease. And after being privileged to enjoy this effort, all I can say is: Tell me more! Tell me more!

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