Flashdance The Musical

Based on the 1980’s film, this high energy stage show tells the story of Alexandra Owens, a welder by day and nightclub dancer by night but whose ambition is to go to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy to become a trained professional dancer. Love and a lack of belief in herself get in the way but in the end, encouraged by her elderly friend Hannah, (played wonderfully by Astra Beadle) Alex wows the audition panel at the dance school and her future is set. 

Scenery was very industrial with multi layered scaffolding which was used to great effect and with neon signs used to denote either the nightclub or the dance studio. The lighting was also important as this is an open stage and the use of roaming blue lights over the audience made sure we couldn’t see the changes of scenes! A small band of six competent musicians conducted by MD Siobhan Walls was all quite loud but that is really expected from 80’s music. With hits like Gloria, Maniac, I love Rock and Roll and What a Feeling the ensemble and solo singing was flawless. This show stands or falls on its dance numbers and I must say that Caroline Ferguson’s energetic, tricky choreography was superb and needed good all-round dancers – which she had. 

What a great part for Francesca Grant as Alex. She is hardly ever off stage and was accomplished as a singer, dancer and actor. Her love interest, boss Nick, is Francesca’s real life husband Charlie so no wonder they had that chemistry! Alex’s friends at the nightclub, Gloria (Elizabeth Ellis), Kiki (Kay Wright) and Tess (Isabella Pemble) were also accomplished as singers/dancers/actors and were a good support to Alex. Alongside Alex’s story there are some other sub-plots going on which I did find a bit difficult to follow but all the supporting characters gave substance to the show.

The best moments have to be the dance numbers together with the energy of the large ensemble and the toe-tapping music. For lovers of modern dance and music, co-directors Bethany Harding and David Beaumont certainly made this a memorable, feel good, fun performance.

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