Bring It On: The Musical

Bring It On is a high octane and fun story about the serious and cut throat world of cheerleading. Friendship leads to rivalry and differences bring people together in this quirky production. Stockton Riverside College leaned into all of these themes and did so incredibly well!

Directing this production is the brilliant partnership of Sara Durkin and Paul Saunders alongside Assistant to Director Matthew Walker. Their work with the performers in creating a quirky and yet engaging work could have been a difficult one but the show worked brilliantly. The changes in mood, tone and setting flowed brilliantly with the help of a brilliant stage crew and some cast to assist. The use of three different blocks, decorated seamlessly in different ways gave no need for long scene changes and allowed the performance to keep its pace.

Choreography was in another world! The juxtaposition of the cheerleader routines with the hip-hop sections were brilliant. Lead Choreography was from the incredibly talented Paul Saunders; Hannah Hadley, Amara Gavriel, Ellie Bancroft, Lucie Rowley shared Assistant Choreographing responsibilities with support from Assistant Dance Captains Amara Gavriel, Scarlett Ackerman and Molly Devanny. From start to end the dance was a huge pleasure to see. Energy, pace and rhythm were consistent throughout the production as well as the technical skills shown in both styles. The jumps, flips, spins and throws were some of the best and well rehearsed sections I have ever seen in a production.

Musical Direction was given by Gary Jerry and Lana Davis who provided incredible support to provide these young performers with an incredible vocal starting point to support their characters. Songs were varied in style, well performed and showed a great deal of vocal control throughout.

Tech was done in house by the students which was faultless! Sound Technician Ed Blankley, Lighting Programmer Will Adler, Set Design & Builder Henry Mohan alongside Lighting Technicians Madisyn Waistell and Hope McMahon had the experience of college students but the experience of professionals. They were focused and pin point with every aspect of the show, from brilliantly used lighting cues to the overall design and use of well timed sound was spot on! The use of the back projection to show changes of scene as well as some multimedia performance in the form of pre-recorded video calls and web searches was a very clever but never overused use of the tech to hand.

The dancers in both sections deserve so much credit, in the number ‘What I Was Born To Do’ there was constant character, energy and interaction between all of the cast. The stage was filled with stories being told, relationships being formed and broken. The cheerleader group from ‘Truman Highschool’ was made up of Cast B members: Poppy Fairhurst, Hettie Dyke, Sophia Strong, Molly Faulkner, Felicity Gibbon, Aimee Thwaites, Lucy Wilkinson, Rebecca Cairnes, Bobbie Pickering and Phoebe Carr. Working along side them were all show cast members: Olivia Cockerill, Scarlett Ackermann, Isabelle Wheatley, Caitlyn Petitjean, Violet Swift, Emilie Noble, Josie Elstobb, Emily Thomas and Elif Tiffany. Their poise and form was clear to see and supported by their countless hours of training and preparation looked like a routine any professional group would have been proud of.

Coming onto the other side of the storyline and the hip-hop dance troop from Jackson High. This group contained cast B members: Lana Pratt, Niamh Heatley, Darcey Boushall, Paige Marsh, Millie Brownless, Eve Cooley, Georgia Reid, Chloe Craig and Ciara Hagan. Alongside the all show cast of: Amara Gavriel, Lexi Allen, Josie Aitken, Robyn Scott, Skye McMahon, Molly Devanny and Ellie Goldthorpe. This diverse and talented group not only showed their fantastic cheerleading skills, near the end of the show, but the undeniable talent of their hip-hop dance performance was immense! We saw synchronised movements, body popping routines which contained some brilliant individual talent. The whole of the supporting cast were incredibly talented with constant involvement throughout the production. Both sets of students were backed by: Alisha Thompson, Scarlett Storey, Libby Cole, Biba Larini-Taylor and Roselyn Dale who played students.

Supporting characters were constant in this show and always providing a new angle, some different information or a sassy one liner to add to the scene. Harry Stewart as Steven, Matthew Walker as Cameron, Daniel Hobson as Twig, Thomas Pugh as Randell were all brilliant performers and gave a real and in depth character to enhance the scenes well.

Amber Evans as the mean and sassy Eva was a brilliant character, super characterisation and a great attitude. Harrison Bateman as the sassy, socially imposing La Sienega was a stunning show of pure and genuine character and performance. Harrison's dancing and energy certainly gave the other characters something to interact with. Megan Vazquez-Johnston playing Nautica was also another brilliant addition to the highschool cast, with her energy, vocal strength and brilliant dance ability she was great for the role! Lydia Wetherill as Kylar and Brooke Burke as Skylar were both superb in their roles, bouncing off each other's energy throughout the show with a fantastic connection between their roles. Both showing character development and allowing the audience to join them on their emotional journey, songs were sang with strength and performed well!

The leader of the hip-hop Jackson crew Danielle was played superbly by Esme Raine. Esme's expression and characterisation worked perfectly throughout the production, her inner emotions gently being shown to the audience were exactly what was required to give her hard exterior leader the softness and genuine emotion we needed. ‘We Ain't No Cheerleaders’ was one of the highlights od the show, led by Esme and her troop the number made me sit back in my seat and watch in absolute awe.

Libby West as Campbell the cheerleading turned hip-hop trying school switcher was one challenging role to play which she did brilliantly. Libby's energy and enthusiasm when appropriate were superb, the emotion was clear and her musical numbers throughout were sang with strength and had great storytelling throughout. ‘What Was I Thinking’ & ‘We're Not Done’ were two brilliantly performed and sung numbers, however ‘One Perfect Moment’ was a stunning performance. From the challenging vocals to intricate emotional pathways Libby navigated these with ease and took the audience on a beautiful musical journey with her.

Last but by no means least was the incredible Seren Fellows as the nerdy, awkward, outcast Bridget. It is easy to overlook these characters in regards to intricacy, those who have a huge transformation are easy to jump too drastic in changes too quick and feel forced but this was not. Seren found the perfect balance for Bridget, she showed some fantastic character development and she did it at a realistic and believable level. Her stage presence and performance was far beyond her years in regards to complete performance. Vocally she was stunning. Acting was perfect. Dancing was absolutely audacious and amazing. ‘It Ain't No Thing’ is now possibly one of my new favourite musicals songs because of this performance. I have never met a comedic role which moved me emotionally as well as making me properly belly laugh as much as Seren did in this role. Truly something special.

Yet again I am leaving a performance from Stockton Riverside College absolutely amazed and blown away! Well Done!

 

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