Reviewer: Christine Stanton
Book, Lyrics & Direction: Sam Cochrane
Music & Lyrics: David Fallon
“Family-Friendly, Feel Good Fun”
4 / 5
~This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub ~
It’s time for the annual Scout games, where scouts across the world are gathered to compete in a series of competitions in order to win the coveted golden badge. But not everyone has good intentions – Faye Kaname, a bitter runner-up from a previous year is set to sabotage the competition, using her hypnosis skills to cheat her way to the top. It’s up to Ayesha & Joe to save the day and reward the rightful winner.
Scouts! The Musical is easy, enjoyable and energetic with a brilliant cast who put in a LOT of effort throughout their performances. It has the essence of a Disney show – part Camp Rock, part High School Musical, with a lot of energy and a purposefully cheesy (without being cringeworthy) script, that sets the atmosphere for a Scout gathering perfectly. Sam Cochrane and David Fallon are the creators behind the show and have incorporated every box you’d want ticked in a musical; a great cast, straightforward storyline and lots of upbeat, originally written songs scattered throughout to carry the plot forward. The Bad Badge song needs a standalone mention for its brilliance, but all of the musical numbers are fun, catchy and impeccably performed.
This is an extremely talented group of performers with a multitude of skills. Each cast member play a variety of different instruments, sometimes more than one at once such as Katie Pritchard (Rosie) with her kazoo recorder mash-up or Rob Gathercole (Luke/Linus) playing the trumpet and piano simultaneously. Sydney Spencer (Ayesha) and Emily Kitchingham (Charlotte/Faye) have incredible singing voices, their vocals truly belonging on a West End stage. Joel Nash (Joe) and Kemi Clarke (Dylan) have incredible energy and range, both naturally talented performers, they put a lot of personality into each of their scenes.
Much like the motto of the Scouts – you need to be prepared during this show, as this is an interactive musical that brings audience members up onto the stage as participants in the scout games. Before all the introverts in potential audiences panic, it’s only three people that get selected, and it’s surprisingly well-executed, adding additional comedy and improvisation to the scenes.
Whether you’re a Scout with an arsenal of badges, or you steered clear of outdoor activities as a youngster, it doesn’t matter – Scouts! The Musical is the epitome of family friendly, feel-good fun, that can be enjoyed by all.
Runs until 9 July 2023
RatedReviewed 
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