For a few nights in March the stage in the Comenius Centre was transformed into Fat Sam’s Grand Slam Speakeasy 
in Prohibition New York for Theatre Workshop’s production of “Bugsy Malone”. The show was performed for the three nights of March 12th -14th to a sell-out audience.
Tyler Russell handled the main part of Bugsy, the part time boxing manager and fixer, with aplomb and a very convincing New York accent which he maintained throughout.
Blousy Brown, the aspiring singer hoping to make it, was played by Ellis Lill, while her boss, the harassed owner of the Grand Slam Speakeasy, Fat Sam, was performed to great comic effect by Gurbinder Takhar.
He also raised a few laughs as a magician in a cameo role. Elaine Goulbourn looked stunning in a red flapper’s dress and sang her signature tune, “My Name is Tallulah” to great effect as the opener to Act Two.
The part of the ever-hopeful Fizzy was taken by Abbie Holyoake in Year 7 and the performance of her song provided one of the most poignant moments of the show.
As “Bugsy Malone” required a large cast many members showed their versatility by taking on a number of roles, 
ranging from opera singer to showgirl to hood, while several Year 11s, who joined rehearsals late in the proceedings, revealed hidden talents as boxers and hoods, wielding the splurge guns with great gusto.
George Bradley, Edward Kelly, Enzo Gaccio and Alex Hirst discovered that they could dance as well as sing during their showstopper number “Do You Want to Be a Boxer?”
We were thrilled to have a number of Year 6s from the Junior School play the Down and Outs and gang members and we thank them for their enthusiasm and professionalism throughout.
A show like this does not happen without a great deal of work behind the scenes and especial mention must be made of Charlotte Lazenby who devised all of the choreography and stage managed each night with a team of helpers.
Kirsty Brien created and sourced all of the costumes and many of the props single-handedly and worked tirelessly and efficiently behind the scenes so that the show looked as good as it sounded.
With Mr Rickards in the lighting box, Mr Rhoades in charge of the select band of excellent musicians and Miss Pateman producing and directing, all of the cast, stage crew and musicians gave Fulneck a night to remember for a long time to come!