Beyond Broadway’s Footloose Delivers Twirls, Tunes… and Teen Tension
The Beyond Broadway Experience’s Footloose bursts onto the Festival Theatre stage with youthful energy and striking polish. With performers aged 8 to 25, this ambitious production showcases the next generation of musical theatre talent under the expert guidance of a professional creative team.
Directed by Murray Grant, Drew Gowland, and Malcolm J. Burnett, the show is fast-paced and full of life. Grant, alongside Laura Proudfoot, Sarah Kerr, Kieran Walsh, and Frazer Beckles, also leads a strong choreography team. The large ensemble handles intricate movement with confidence and synchronicity — not a toe out of time. While overuse of canon and triangle formations can feel a little formulaic, the choreography remains engaging, allowing for more advanced dancers to shine and some truly jaw-dropping moments.
Musically, the production impresses. Under Linda Stewart and Greg Davidson’s direction, the vocals are mostly tight and tuneful, with powerful ensemble numbers and well-balanced harmonies. A true highlight is Learning to Be Silent, beautifully performed by the mother figure characters Vi(Kirsty Montgomery), Ethel(Eve Houldcroft), and daughter Ariel(Rhianne McAllister) — a haunting and heartfelt moment exploring the suppression of women’s voices.
Rhianne McAllister gives a bold performance as Ariel Moore, bringing energy, physicality, and vocal strength to the rebellious preacher’s daughter. At times, her portrayal edges into overtly sexy territory — which may feel slightly jarring given the actor’s age — though it aligns with the provocative nature of the character. Bobby Duncan brings charisma and stamina to Ren McCormack, tackling the demanding dance role with confidence and delivering strong vocals, despite a few stumbles – though who among us could be pitch perfect after an acrobatic dance routine ending in a jumping split?!
Individually, both leads impress — but together, they lack genuine chemistry. Their interactions feel somewhat rehearsed rather than emotionally connected, making their romance seem more functional than heartfelt.
Harry Aspinall and Kirsty Montgomery stand out as Reverend Shaw and Vi Moore, delivering mature, nuanced performances that anchor the show’s emotional arc. Millie Wilson is a true delight as Rusty, radiating energy and belting joyfully through her numbers, while Huck Whittle’s Willard offers endearing comic relief. Their will-they-won’t-they relationship really captures the awkward glances and blushes of a high school crush!
The production occasionally overwhelms visually, with large scenes feeling cluttered and the use of projections sometimes more distracting than helpful, especially when the screen transitions seem to fall behind at times. It is perhaps a result of this constant visual busyness that the quieter moments on stage oddly feel too empty — the contrast makes them feel underpopulated or emotionally flat, even when the performances are strong.
Another notable point is the heavy makeup worn by many young cast members, which at times feels at odds with their age – a reminder of the challenges in balancing stage tradition with audience perception.
Despite these small drawbacks, Footloose is a vibrant, high-energy production that showcases the talent, discipline, and passion of a large and enthusiastic young cast. Beyond Broadway Experience delivers on its promise of a professional-standard platform for youth theatre and it’s a testament to their skilled team and passionate members that such a huge production has come together at this standard and with so little rehearsal time! There are sure to be a few faces in this cast we will see again!