A rocking Back To The 80s (From Wharfedale Observer)

A rocking Back To The 80s

4:52pm Monday 18th August 2008

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RACHEL O'CONNOR reviews Stampede Theatre Company's Back To The 80s' at Yeadon Town Hall Well, they did it again. Stampede Theatre Company sure rocked the Town Hall to its foundations with another of their rip roaring shows.

It's hard to believe that a company that is just two years old has already shipped seven superb shows off the production line.

In the process they have revitalised musical theatre in the area and have sent thousands of people home happy, humming and singing songs for the rest of the week!

Les Miserables', a cabaret show, Annie', Little Shop Of Horrors', We Will Rock You', The Full Monty' and now Back To The 80s'.

They have all rolled off the production line and brought a new dimension to local theatre. Some talented young performers have come to the fore with the likes of Roger Rowley starting his musical theatre studies at the GSA Conservatoire in Guild-ford.

Back To The 80s' was the swansong for another major young talent in Joe Morrow. The multi talented star of this latest show will be sorely missed as he goes off to the Italia Conti Academy in London.

We look forward to seeing both these talents on the wider stage.

But Stampede shows are not all about individuals, they are all about a concerted effort from performers and back stage helpers, Musical Directors and choreographers and of course talented Directors such as Royston Bayfield who was in charge of this latest offering.

So it was a case of Footloose' and dashing down to the Town Hall for some Dancing On The Ceiling'.

Brilliant music, spades of laughter - what more could you want?

Oh, on the opening night we could have done without the over zealous use of the smoke machine! A coughing, spluttering audience who could not see any action on stage for almost five minutes actually turned out rather funny but then Stampede put you in that kind of mood!

Morrow had the role of Corey Palmer Junior and as usual played it with everything he had.

Anthony Gilmartin returned to the stage after a three year break to play the part of Corey senior and his was an accomplished performance.

But where do you end with the compliments when a cast includes the likes of Georgina Midgley, Ben Tomlinson, Shaun Robinson - the inimitable Malcolm in Full Monty' - Caroline Bright, Faye Wiggins and Emily Taylor as well as The Godfather' of this great revival in young musical talent Richard Lloyd.

Support roles were well handled by Richard Koslowsky, Joe Braham, Darcy Isa, Katie Kelly, Adam Folkard, Luke Bayer, Danny Lawton, Emma Golding and Jennifer Barnes.

Credit too to the choir of Alex Ashcough, Sarah Fowler, Loretta Marklew and Alice Stacey and the ensemble of Paul Bamber, Christian Drysdale, Laura Jackson, Brad Judge, Ed Machin, Becky Matthews, Grace McGuire, Lotte McGuire, Kym Noon, Vikki Paris, Joanne Payne, Gareth Robinson, Robyn Savage, Alishia Schofield, Chloe Schofield, Elle Simpson, Rachel Thomson and Tom Weston.

This was a huge cast handled superbly by Royston Bayfield whose musical staging was superb. Choreographers Rachel McGuire and Donna Woodman had done an excellent job and MD Tom Kyle got his own deserved podium high above the stage with his magical orchestra.

The whole production was given a boost by the superb light show provided by Horsforth company Zig Zag Lighting who provide lighting for some of the biggest names in the music world including Nirvana, Blondie, Westlife and more recently Leeds band The Pigeon Detectives.

Another thoroughly professional show from the local amateur stage.

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