Hairspray by KPAOS at Little Theatre, Leicester
Written by Hollie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Welcome to the 60’s! Knighton Park’s Amateur Operatic Society takes you along for the ride this November to Baltimore in the US of A. After last year’s success of their production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, KPAOS (Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society) bring their sequins, ironing and hairspray to this production, which signals their tenth anniversary since their first performance at The Little Theatre in Leicester.
This Broadway Musical, set in 1962, rose to popularity in 2007 when the film starring John Travolta and Zac Efron was released worldwide. A story of equality, discrimination and the treatment of black people versus white brings with it moments of hilarity, friendship and some very well-known tracks. Considering that the 60s were not that long ago, and although the story might be fiction, it teaches the audience about the challenges during that particular decade, as well as its relevance in today’s society, as it explores these themes and issues.
Leading the way is Tracy Turnblad, played by Ellie Barratt, in this iconic role as the energetic, determined and kind-hearted protagonist. Along with her mother and father, Tracy is a force for good who has always dreamed of being part of ‘The Nicest Kids in Town’ crew on ‘The Corny Collins Show.’ Ellie leads the company in the opening musical number ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ which delighted adults, children and the Girl Guides in their seats in the auditorium.
Ellie has an exceptional singing voice, but so does the rest of the company! TV presenter Corny Collins, played by Conor Izzard, also performed some fantastic musical numbers as part of his TV programme, which aims to inspire children and give them a platform for their singing and dancing abilities.
Every happy-go-lucky show needs a baddie, and Rosie Chalmers plays the irritating mean girl Amber Von Tussle. Along with her fantastic singing voice, Rosie is able to play the part of Amber incredibly well, and the audience can’t help but dislike her as she interacts with Tracy and her friends.
Playing the iconic role of Tracy’s mother is Matt Brown as Edna Turnblad. Matt honestly gave John Travolta a run for his money and his theatre experience shone through with his ability to use his voice to portray his character effectively.
The scenery and costumes, although simple, were incredibly effective and added to the overall sparkle of the show. This show is fantastic fun for all the family. I did not give this show five stars due to the inconsistencies with sound and the slow transitions with the microphones, as well as the lighting. This was disappointing, as I have mentioned this in a previous review, and I feel that those elements let the overall finish of this production down.
If you can’t wait to stop the beat or become one of the nicest kids in town, then I urge you to see if there are any tickets left for this fabulous production. If not, I urge you to see what the Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society do next!
This sold-out run of Hairspray continues at Leicester’s Little Theatre until Saturday 22nd November 2025. Leicester Drama Society are bringing their traditional pantomime Dick Whittington to The Little Theatre this Christmas from Friday 12th December 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★
