REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast – young Birmingham cast brings magical fairytale to life
Rangzeb Hussain
November 26, 2022
The Old Rep theatre in Birmingham is showcasing a magical version of Beauty and the Beast for the Christmas season.
The brand-new production of the timeless fairytale is currently running at The Old Rep until 16 December.
The new show is the seventh Christmas show which The Old Rep has produced alongside the Birmingham Ormiston Academy Group (BOA).
The BOA, which opened in 2011, is an arts academy for students aged 14-19. The academy has garnered praise for inspiring young people towards excellence, and its forays into theatre productions have received praise.
This sparkling production of the classic French tale Beauty and the Beast continues the excellent work of BOA as it collaborates with The Old Rep.
The Old Rep Writer Toby Hulse and composer Steve Allan Jones have produced an exciting re-imagining of the timeless fairytale for all the family to enjoy.
Hulse introduces a prologue set in a modern school where a teacher explains the importance of being unique in a world where differences are often questioned or ridiculed. The three students to whom she dispenses the wisdom are instructed to rise above the verbal attacks which they receive on a daily basis because they dress differently or their outlooks and behaviour fails to conform to rigid societal rules.
People are too swift to point fingers, and even quicker to judge and lash out with moral punishment and condemnation if anyone dares to express an outlook, or follow a certain way of life, that goes against the carefully constructed parameters of existence.
The Old Rep The teacher tells the trio of students that real beauty is not external but rather internal, in the abode of the soul. They have to look beyond the toxic stereotypes peddled on social media platforms. To illustrate this point she shares the timeless fairytale of Beauty and the Beast.
The show journeys into the world of Belle, a radiant young woman who enjoys poetry and dancing despite living in a patriarchal society where women are expected to be subservient and play second fiddle to men.
Belle dreams of adventure and breaking out of a closeted village where women enjoy very little liberty.
Her life takes an unexpected turn when she ends up in a castle belonging to a Beast who has been placed under a terrible curse. Belle’s interaction with the Beast affect her deeply and she takes her first steps into the magical world of love that will melt away external prejudices and unearth inner beauty and warmth in the fearful Belle and the emotionally-frozen Beast.
The Old Rep The original music and songs by Jones unlock the universal message at the heart of Hulse’s reworking of the oft-told fairytale.
Director Alec Fellows-Bennett keeps the rhythm of the drama moving at a pace that allows excitement to pulse while at the same time to let the key themes of the story to shine through.
The fantastical costumes by Leanne Fitchett, and atmospheric lighting design by Will Monks, brings alive the centuries old story to life in a dynamic manner.
The Old Rep The large cast, drawn from the BOA talent pool, brings zest and emotion to the show, and every character in the story is portrayed in an engaging manner.
The talented cast not only act and sing but the young group also perform infectious dance routines choreographed by Emily Haywood.
This thrilling and magical Christmas family show, with a heartwarming message about tolerance and acceptance, is the perfect way to usher in the festive season.
VERDICT: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Beauty and the Beast is now running at The Old Rep theatre in Birmingham until Friday 16 December
