REVIEW | Bugsy Malone UK Tour

Credit: Johan Persson

Bugsy Malone

UK Tour

★★★

Bugsy Malone is a musical that instantly resonates with you to be a production full of fun and energy from the moment the curtain goes up. 

Bugsy Malone was a 1976 musical gangster film, which was based loosely on events from the time of prohibition, and the exploits of real life gangsters Al Capone and Bugs Moran. The film was produced when the British film industry was struggling and once it arrived on screen it went on to win five BAFTA Awards. After being such a surprise success of writer Alan Parker's, it arrived in London's West End where it premiered in 1983. 

Now the classic gangster musical comedy film from the 1970s has hit the stage on an exciting new UK tour. 

This new show is produced by Theatre Royal Bath and Kenny Wax in collaboration with Birmingham Rep Theatre and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. Now on a new UK tour until February 2023, you can be swept away by the joy of seeing young talent undertaking the demanding roles of some of the most iconic characters in musical theatre. 

Sean Holmes directs this new touring production alongside Drew McOnie's zestful choreography. McOnie's style really amphs up the energy in this show with many enjoyable musical numbers intertwined into this production. Well-known songs such as 'So You Wanna Be A Boxer' and 'Bad Guys' are stand out examples of McOnie's spectacular work.

The overall aesthetic of Bugsy Malone is great. Jon Bausor delivers 1920's New York-esque with a backstage styled set that comes to life with many introductions of props coming down to help move this fast-paced story along. 

This young cast is notably awe-inspiring for younger members of the audience. Team Knuckles Amar Blackman (Bugsy), Avive Williams (Blousey), Charlie Burns (Fat Sam), Taziva-Faye Katsande (Talluah), Ellis Sutherland (Fizzy), Ava Hope Smith (Lena/Babyface) and Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray (Dandy Dan) were our leading actors of the evening. They each delivered an enjoyable performance but putting them with a far more experienced ensemble cast made the finished production slightly disjointed. There were a lot of issues with the sound and projection of the young cast which made it really difficult to latch onto what was happening. If you know the story, you are safe but if this is about inviting new audiences in to see shows like this then there's work that needs to be done there. I didn't particularly enjoy their accent style as well, it didn't feel natural.

There is no doubt that Bugsy Malone has the potential to be a fantastic show. It is extremely energetic and has moments of true joy, but there is a bit of a way to go for me to give it more than 3 stars unfortunately.

I also review the Curve's inhouse production of Bugsy Malone in 2016. You can read that here.