Fame – The Musical: The Beyond Broadway Experience at the King’s Theatre Review

Reviewed by Dawn Watson

Fame The Musical has been brought to the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh for two nights only by The Beyond Broadway Experience 2017. This company offers Scottish youngsters the chance to perform, learn, discover and fulfil their passion for the performing arts in a unique environment of fellow artists encouraged and helped along the way by the resident production team who are keen to offer support and guidance.

Fame brings back magical memories for me as a young teenager who looked forward to every Thursday night to watch and dream along with the actors on Fame the television show – I loved it and daydreamed my way through each show imagining I was there!

Fame is based on the musical film directed by Alan Parker and written by Christopher Gore. It follows the teens studying at the performing arts at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. Throughout the production we are entertained with the various stories from several of the students – following their own struggles of seeking stardom, watching their weight, struggling with the academic side of things and of course the inevitable intricacies of romance and friendships, all striving for the magical career in show business – desperate for ‘that’ call. The musical follows their struggles from auditions, through freshman, sophomore and finally junior and senior years…

The stage came alive with 160, yes you read that right, 160 talented local dancers, singers, actors and simple but effective lighting. I have never seen so many people on a stage at any one time and although busy they knew exactly what they had to do, where they had to be and although I believe they all only had a few weeks of rehearsals you could not tell this they took to the stage like they had done it for years, the production was slick… The atmosphere in the audience was electric as all the kid’s family and friends spotted them on stage – their talents was mesmerising to watch. Even a slight sound issue at the end of the first half didn’t throw them at all…

Lots of fantastic songs and amazing singers brought the story of Fame to life and I particularly loved and giggled along at ‘Can’t keep it down’ – it was sung with passion, fun and really made me laugh out loud as did Sarah Kerr playing Mabel – my daughter and I loved her – she was funny, honest and had a wonderful singing voice – ‘Mabel’s Prayer’ was brilliant, what a voice! Of course, everyone loves the song Fame which I too personally love, it brought shivers down my spine and I was pleased it was featured twice in the show.

The kids were split between 2 dance groups, a music student group and an acting student group – which cleverly brought each group on stage as they each were having their different lessons. The teachers I assumed were adults they were so good – but it wasn’t until the end when we looked at the programme that we realised that actually they were just youngsters also –  hats off to them taking on big songs and pulling them off as naturally as they did.

The musical was brilliant – a real quick energetic production with songs having you tap your feet and clap your hands to softer more melancholic songs.

My daughter who is 10 had not heard of Fame – she has now and she and I loved it, in fact she may have caught the bug! Catch it while you can as it finishes tonight. We both thought their performance was brilliant and it’s hard to believe that they do not all do this full time. Well done everyone.

The King’s Theatre in Edinburgh is easily found and can be accessed by train, car or bus and plenty parking nearby. P.S. it is always very warm inside so wear something cool.

Rating: 5/5

For other shows at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh visit www.edtheatres.com.

King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9LQ | 0131 529 6000