Bugsy Malone; Wantage Junior Showstoppers, Wantage Civic Hall, Jan 15-16, 22-23 (From Herald Series)

Bugsy Malone; Wantage Junior Showstoppers, Wantage Civic Hall, Jan 15-16, 22-23

9:00am Wednesday 6th January 2010

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A NEW children’s theatre group is set to stage its first production, Bugsy Malone, at Wantage Civic Hall this month.

Wantage Stage Musical Company discovered a wealth of theatrical talent among local children when they staged Oliver! in 2008.

The company decided the time was right to establish a children’s theatre group, which they have christened Wantage Junior Showstoppers. The group’s first show will be Bugsy Malone, based loosely on events in Chicago during the Prohibition era. Its tongue-in-cheek style features children as the gangsters and gangster molls. Audiences can also expect to see gun fights featuring the Bugsy Malone splurge guns, which fire a substance similar to shaving cream, and a custard pie fight. Bugsy Malone director Moira Hasler said: “We picked Bugsy Malone because it is such a child-orientated show. “It's one of the only shows that stars all kids — even the original version of the show was all kids. “The children are all on stage a lot of the time and there are lots of great parts in it.” Wantage Junior Showstoppers, launched just over a year ago, started by holding singing and acting classes on Sunday afternoons, before progressing to beginning rehearsals for Bugsy Malone about eight months ago. There are 32 children involved in the production, the youngest aged eight and the oldest 16. Moira said: “Most of the kids had never danced before and I have taught them to tap dance for the show. “They love it now and they can’t wait to get their tap shoes.” If Bugsy Malone is a success, the children who are starring in it hope there will be many more shows to follow. Performances will be on Fridays and Saturdays, January 15-16 and 22-23, at 7pm. There wil also be 2pm matinées on the Saturdays. Tickets are available by calling 01235 767509, or from the Vale and Dowland Museum, Wantage, or Bretts Community Pharmacy, Grove.

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