Plymouth Theatre Review

Easy to Follow: 4

Family Friendly: 5

Must see: 4

Title: ‘Beauty & The Beast

Venue: Plymouth College

Date: 1^st April 2026

It was lovely to be invited back to Plymouth College last week for their recent production of ‘Beauty & The Beast.’ Having reviewed ‘Shrek’ there in 2023 I was expecting good things, and they certainly did not disappoint! This was a strong production across all areas, and it was clear from the opening numbers that a lot of effort had gone into every aspect of this show. From the performances themselves to the visual elements, this production was crafted with care, energy and commitment. The cast and creative team clearly worked hard to bring this much-loved story to life, resulting in an enjoyable and polished performance that kept me captivated and laughing throughout.

The strength of this production falls largely on some excellent casting choices and the strength of its fantastic cast. Several standout performances from both the principal and supporting cast elevated the show giving the story pace and energy and adding fresh nuance to well-known characters. Sophia R gave a beautifully crafted and well-rounded performance as Belle, showcasing her strong character acting and putting her heart and soul into the character of Belle. She excelled in numbers where she could put a bit of power behind her vocals I particularly enjoyed ‘Home’ and ‘A Change in Me’ as these numbers really showcased her vocal and acting skills. Likewise, Sam H playing Beast gave a strong vocal performance and cast a formidable presence when on stage. Henry D gave a comedic and believable performance as Gaston; he certainly had the Gaston swagger down to a fine art and the energy he brought to scenes lifted the rest of the cast. His strong character acting aside, he gave a controlled and versatile vocal performance as Gaston and was the perfect actor for this role! His loveable side kick Lefou, played by Wolfie H was portrayed with confidence and he brought comedy and pace to every scene he was in. The supporting roles were very well cast, Mrs Potts, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Chip, Madam Grand Bouche and Babette, all played their roles perfectly and were well suited to their relevant characters. Mrs Potts was played with charm and poise by Rebekah S; she embodied the character and managed to keep her arm up and in character for the entire show (how!?) The star of this performance however was undoubtedly Lumiere. Dixie T-M was absolutely outstanding in her role as Lumiere and produced one of my favourites takes on this character to date with effortless charm, sass and confidence that radiated through the cast and audience. Her comedic timing and flawless portrayal of character was second to none and I absolutely loved the comedy and energy she injected into the role. What a force to be reckoned with! Other notable mentions go to The Bimbettes played by Olivia T, Emilia O and Misia T who gave great performances injecting comedy and drama into their scenes. 

The ensemble at large was committed and focused, making good use of the stage and putting effort into the big group numbers to ensure these well-known numbers landed well with the audience. The choreography was effective and executed well by some proficient dancers, highlights of the show for me include the ensemble scenes in the Tavern for ‘Gaston’ and ‘Be our Guest’ which ended up being my favourite number of the night.

The sound and lighting design was competent and exciting, use of projection, smoke and an array of emotive colours to really set the mood. This complimented the set design and went along way to immersing the audience into the production. the set design itself was detailed enough, and they made good use of key props that aided in the telling of the story and setting the scene. This along with the detailed costumes made for a very visually engaging show. The scene transitions flowed smoothly most of the time, there were however a few instances where the stage was empty for a moment too long. The sound was pretty consistent throughout with very little issue with mics, considering this was all manned by students it should be noted that this was a very smooth production in terms of sound and lighting.

Beauty and the Beast is one of those shows I will never tire of seeing and this was a strong rendition and a very enjoyable production. It was obvious that a huge amount of effort had gone into every aspect of the production and that commitment shone through in the lighting and sound, the costume and props, and the fantastic cast portrayals. This show had plenty of charm and offered a well-executed and creative take on a classic story! The very talented students at Plymouth College have yet again produced a fantastic musical and I can’t wait to see what they do next!