Bryanston’s stage was transformed into an enchanted corner of 18th-century France last week as it unveiled its 2025 musical, Beauty and the Beast, a production bursting with heart, humour and a level of polish that would make many professional companies proud.
This was Bryanston at its very best, uniting pupils from across the school including drama, dance, music, costume, lighting, choreography and set design. Audience members described it as “one of the most memorable performances of all time”, all the more astonishing given that it was created entirely by a school.
Director of Performing Arts, Vicki Green, reflected afterwards:
“Our pupils have produced a show of extraordinary quality. The dedication, professionalism and joy they have brought to every rehearsal and performance has been nothing short of inspiring.”
Disney’s much-loved tale of an arrogant prince cursed to live as a Beast until he learns to love, and be loved in return, is a bold undertaking for any school. With Alan Menken’s sweeping score, large ensemble numbers and complex technical demands, it is not a show that can be done by halves. Bryanston’s Performing Arts pupils embraced the challenge, delivering an evening of theatre that was nothing short of sensational.
At the centre of the story is Belle, the book-loving young woman who longs for adventure beyond her “provincial life”. The role was shared across the run by two pupils – Anna B and Ella A. Both were magical, mixing dialogue and song together seamlessly. Their Belle was intelligent, warm and quietly determined and the perfect contrast to the powerful yet tender Beast, played by Rory L. Encased in mask, paws and a towering costume, Rory nevertheless uncovered the character’s vulnerability; his journey from snarling recluse to gentle guardian was genuinely moving by the final scene.
Surrounding the central couple was a village, and castle, full of colourful personalities. Sofia T-C, Libby R, May D and Zola S were gloriously over-the-top as the self-absorbed village girls, Les Quatre Filles, their comic timing perfectly pitched against Belle’s sincerity. James W and Bertie H formed a gleefully arrogant double act as the swaggering antagonists, Gaston and Le Fou, their ruthless bravado played for maximum humour.
Inside the enchanted castle, the household objects were a delight. William V brought warmth and dry wit to Cogsworth; Tilly H was outrageously flirtatious and light as a feather as Babette; while Lizzy O quite literally “dazzled like pure gold” as Lumière, with an incredible voice and sensational dancing. Izzy A’s elegant, operatic vocals lent class and sparkle to every scene she graced as Madame de la Grand Bouche. Mrs Potts, played by Caitlyn H, was portrayed with touching tenderness. Her “old soul” presence and gentle delivery of the title song became one of the evening’s most affecting moments. Macy G, as Chip, brought perkiness and innocence, a hint of the hopeful future that awaits once the spell is finally broken.
No fairy tale is complete without a hint of menace, and Charlie F provided it in spades as Monsieur D’Arque, inhabiting a dark, nasty character whose every entrance tightened the tension as the villagers marched towards the castle. High above, the washer women added striking stage pictures, and the rest of the ensemble worked tirelessly to keep the world of the story alive. Every crowd scene felt carefully crafted, with singing and dancing that lifted the audience throughout.
Visually, the production was a triumph. The pop-up book set, designed to make audiences feel as if they were stepping into the pages of a beloved story, allowed castles, cottages and forests to appear in an instant, capturing the magic of a storybook springing to life. Lighting and sound combined to heighten the enchantment with looming shadows in the forest, warm golden glows in the ballroom and crisp, clear vocals throughout all testified to meticulous technical preparation. Adam A’s lighting design in particular added atmosphere and depth to each scene, a masterclass in storytelling through light.
Behind the scenes, the stage crew delivered what Vicki Green described as “seamless transitions.” Scene changes flowed so smoothly that the action never lost momentum. In the pit, the musicians performed with assurance and flair, bringing Menken’s glorious score to life and handling everything from the wistful “If I Can’t Love Her” to the show-stopping “Be Our Guest”.
That big production number, “Be Our Guest”, was a particular highlight. From the moment Oz G bounced into view in a salt-and-pepper-pot costume, the audience knew they were in safe hands. The chorus line that followed – the “glorious kick-line girls” – filled the stage with glittering energy and pizzazz, earning some of the loudest cheers of the night.
Vicki Green described Beauty and the Beast as “a story of devotion, despair and redemption as old as time”, and spoke of the show’s central message – that true beauty is found within and that love has the power to transform. She also called this particular cast “especially special”, reflecting that every rehearsal had been “a joyous reminder of how uplifting it can be when young people come together to create something amazing.”
Ultimately, Bryanston’s Beauty and the Beast was far more than an accomplished school production. It was a celebration of the commitment and talent of a group of young people working together. As the curtain went down, the theatre erupted into applause, with a full standing ovation for the cast, musicians and backstage team. For an enchanted few evenings, Broadway really did come to Blandford and audiences left believing that, just as the story promises, love (and a little Disney magic) can transform everything.
