Frank Wooles

NODA News Show Reviews

This was a half-term Halloween treat staged by this youth theatre at the Howardian Centre, Cardiff during the last week in October. The energy and exuberance of young performers is always a joy to watch and it was of particular interest to see the way the group had grown and developed.

This full-scale spoof musical provided plenty of opportunities for the company and the chance for players to indulge in some fun characterisations. A bouquet to talented young Sarah Lark for an accomplished performance as Nadia Naïve, the dumb blonde school teacher who takes three pupils on a field trip to Transylvania. The rest you can probably guess; she becomes the target of Dracula’s attentions, effectively played with dark good looks by Barri Lazarous, and falls for the handsome vampire hunter Dr Nicholas Narcissus. This was a role taken at short notice by Mark Johncock, well-acted and well sung – a young man to be watched.

A show-stealing performance by Matthew Atkins as Genghis; Dracula’s servant Kieran Pugh as Father O’Stake was another performer to catch the eye. Believe me, there is a lot of young talent coming along and it omens well for the future of the amateur (and professional) stage.

A fine little company worked their socks off and responded to the demands of producer (sic) Victor Atkins and Musical Director Matthew Brind with precision and discipline to make this an impressive evening of youth theatre.

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