The production showcases the very best of West Midlands young theatrical talent aged 9 to 24 working alongside a professional creative team led by director and choreographer Pollyann Tanner. Despite working for only 13 days (including 2 days off) over the summer holiday to bring the production to life, Bring It On is a soaring success, and is well worth a watch.
Bring it On explores the cutthroat culture of competitive high school cheerleading in America. We follow the story of newly appointed cheer captain Campbell Davis (Laura Bryan) at Truman High School, who is forced to transfer to the neighbouring inner-city school, Jackson High, for her senior year. Here she befriends queen bee Danielle (Brittany Jarman-Watson) who leads the schools dance squad. Motivated by her desire for revenge, as the evil Eva (Bessy Hingley) steals her boyfriend and teammates away from her, Campbell convinces Jackson High to pick up some pom-poms and compete in the National Cheerleading Championships. Expect intense rivalries, serious bitchiness, foul play, and teenage angst aplenty!
There are many highlights of this production. Pollyann Tanner and Olivia Wicks elaborate and energetic cheer-ography being one of them. It goes without saying that teaching and learning acrobatic choreography is extremely tough, yet the cast make it look effortless, and perform some seriously impressive stunts and acrobatics, particularly in the productions second act. The slick nature of the leaps and tumbles offer an insight into the sheer passion, hard work, and energy that Bring It On must have required during the rehearsal and performance process. It was clear that the cast enjoyed every minute of the performance, making it incredibly joyous to watch.
I must also mention the standout performance from Eden Wedgbrow, who plays Truman-turned-Jackson high schooler, Bridget. The previously overlooked character gets her time to shine in Act II in an utterly show-stealing musical number, It Ain’t No Thing. Accompanied by the equally impressive Molly Ann Bache (La Cienega) and Demi Mitchell (Nautica), this sassy and energetic number is vocally perfect and was a truly captivating and memorable moment of the production.
Despite a few minor issues with microphones, and an occasional nervousness among the cast, the creative team should feel immensely proud of all that they have achieved with Bring It On. It is a show well worthy of a main stage and a mainstream audience. If you want to catch some of tomorrows stars today, then book yourself a ticket to the marvel that is Bring It On.
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