Learning, rehearsing and perfecting a performance ready for an audience in just two weeks is no mean feat.

That’s exactly what youngsters taking part in the Orchard Theatre’s Summer Youth Project (SYP) did.

I was lucky enough to attend the first night of Bugsy Malone, by Alan Parker, the seventh SYP at the theatre.

Right from the beginning the production was an amazingly energetic, colourful and musical display. The cast was a mixed age from 7-18, and all the cast were enthusiastic and talented.

The production included all the tunes everyone knows from the original film such as Fat Sam’s Grand Slam, So You Want To Be A Boxer and, of course, My Name is Tallulah.

The Dance Company, Red Team, Green Team and Blue Team all provided a supporting cast that any West End Theatre would want including tap dancers and acrobats.

The main cast of Bugsy Malone (Reece Eastgate), Fat Sam (Joseph Warrilow), Blousey Brown (Hollister Jacob) and Tallulah (Harriett Jones) were performed by young actors who were charismatic and caught your eye as soon as they were on stage.