Beauty and the Beast - KW Productions Review

Reviewed by Mark Johnson at The Little Theatre in Leicester.

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.

KW Productions celebrate their 10th anniversary by staging Disney's Beauty and the Beast at Leicester’s The Little Theatre. Having been wowed by their last two stellar productions of Calendar Girls and Gypsy it’s wonderful to see the company continue to stage magnificent work.

Helmed by Keiran Whelan-Newby, who produces, directs, and stars as The Beast, this brilliant production brings the classic Disney romance to life with terrific performances and an outstanding live orchestra. 

The story follows Beast, a prince, who is enchanted under a spell after refusing to help an enchantress. The Beast, his castle, and his servants are cast under a spell that can only be broken by true love. Enter Belle, a book-loving girl who ends up at the castle to rescue her father who has taken refuge there after being chased by wolves in the dark forest. The two characters realise they may need each other more than they think.

The cast at the curtain call.

Rose Bale gives a lovely performance as Belle, she is sweet-natured and warm. She flourishes as the show goes on and befits the princess role shining in the iconic yellow dress in the famous ballroom scene. Keiran Whelan-Newby commands the stage as Beast, pitching the role well, you can feel the regret for the decisions he's made in the past. There is a real sense of the human beyond the beast. Vocally Bale and Whelan-Newby are fantastic and nail solo numbers with Belle’s ‘A Change In Me’ and Beast’s 'If I Can't Love Her' standing out.

Vaughan Barton-Ashcroft does a great job with Gaston, his performance is full of the right arrogance and bravado required for the role. He also boasts a strong vocal performance showcased as he sings 'Me'. Matt Barton-Ashcroft plays Gaston's foolish sidekick Lefou, his cartoonish delivery of the role is fun to watch. They make for a cracking duo.

The star turns come from the enchanted objects. Simon Butler is excellent as Lumiere, with a French accent and cheeky smile, he matches well with the amorous Katherine Wadd as Babette. Russell Webster is a tremendous local talent who never disappoints, once more his great work is on show as pompous Cogsworth. Karen Gordon's operatic Madame de la Grande Bouche is pitched magnificently well. Siobhan Ball is outstanding as Mrs Potts, her voice work is impressive as are her vocals which flourish in the title number. Everything Ball does with the role is perfectly performed. Hollie Longley-Wilford (who shares the role with Edward Lander) as Chip is really sweet and fun to watch.

Tony Whitmore is a fine Maurice, you can't help but feel for him as he heads into the forest and enters the Beast's castle. Liz Kavanagh is a strong presence as The Enchantress, she is often on stage during numbers and the impact of the role is clear throughout. The trio of Rachel Wheeler, Philippa Hamilton, and Kerry Smith as the village girls who have entertaining little cameos as they try to get Gaston's attention. They make the most of every opportunity on stage. 

The score by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, is gorgeous and is performed by a stunning 11-piece orchestra under the musical direction of Tim Stokes. Having the live musicians really adds to the piece both tonally and emotionally. It is a real treat to hear an orchestra of this size here, with Tom Brooks' sound design allowing the music to flourish.

There are some really clever directorial choices made by Whelan-Newby and the team, I particularly enjoyed the Wolves portrayed by the female ensemble and their choreographed movement. The design blends well into the production with Amanda Sadler heading up the props department and Joe Roberts providing projections that help set each scene. The projections leading into the dress reveal and the Beast's transformation helps massively in the impact of these moments. I also enjoyed Olivia King's Young Belle and Tracey Holderness' Belle's Mother allowing Belle to reflect on her past.

The ensemble numbers are often the most delightful with numbers such as 'Belle', 'Gaston', or the full-out 'Be Our Guest' offering a chance for the whole company to come together in song and dance. With impressive choreography by Caroline Walsh, the company excels with the movement. Lauren Leggett, Georgina Hall, Lyd Rushton, and Caoimhe Gavagan are strong dancers in the ensemble. 

There's only minor criticism, technical issues aside on the first night, is the second act is almost too fast-paced although that could be more of a material problem than production. The fight sequence between Beast and Gaston also felt a little underpowered and awkward in the tight space chosen for the sequence.

Disney's enchanting musical is a perfect choice for KW Productions to once more showcase their work in their 10th year. They are a leading company here in Leicester having notched up NODA Awards for Best Musical for the last two years and this could once again stand them in good stead. This production is full of magic that will fill the hearts of every single audience member. A pleasure to be a guest at this production.

Beauty and the Beast by KW Productions plays at The Little Theatre in Leicester until Saturday 21st September 2024. Tickets are sold out but you can contact the theatre to join the waiting list. Visit https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/ for further details.