Kiss Me Kate

This production of Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter was a thoroughly enjoyable and lively show, capturing the humour, romance, and backstage chaos that make it such a classic. Set around a production of The Taming of the Shrew, the story of Fred and Lilli’s complicated relationship came across clearly, with their onstage clashes nicely mirroring their offstage tensions.

The principal cast did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Amy Ellison gave a strong and confident performance as Lilli/Katherine, matched well by Mark Hutchinson’s charismatic and engaging Fred/Petruchio. Helen Burton and Paul Richmond added great energy as Lois and Bill, creating some really fun and memorable moments.

The supporting cast and wider ensemble all played an important part in the success of the show. There was a real sense of teamwork on stage, with everyone contributing to the flow and atmosphere. The ensemble numbers felt full of energy, and it was clear a lot of effort had gone into making each scene feel complete and engaging.

Direction from Graham Weston kept the show moving at a good pace, and the musical direction from Colin Akers, Phillip Sutcliffe, and Andrew Bedford supported the performances well. A special mention must go to Oliver Longstaff, who stepped in at the last minute as Deputy Musical Director while also performing—an impressive effort that certainly didn’t go unnoticed.

A lovely addition to the production was the group of young dancers from Miss Stacey’s School of Dance and Theatre. Their appearances added something extra to the show and brought a lot of charm to the performance.

Technically, the set design worked really well. The rotating units were a clever touch, allowing scenes to change smoothly while also creating believable backstage spaces. This worked particularly well for the “play within a play” aspect and helped keep everything flowing without interruption.

Overall, this was a fun and well-put-together production that clearly had a lot of heart behind it. Well done to everyone involved—on stage and behind the scenes—for putting together such an entertaining and enjoyable show.

 

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