So, it’s getting on for about 11 o’clock at night, and I’ve literally just walked back through the door after spending the evening at the King’s Theatre. Earlier today, I was invited along to a gala performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and I thought—why not? I’ve never been to a gala evening before, so it felt like a good opportunity to experience something a bit different.

Now, I’ll be completely honest going into this—I didn’t really know what to expect. In fact, I hadn’t been to the theatre properly for decades. We’re talking probably 40 years or so. So, it’s fair to say I went in with an open mind.

But having seen the full performance tonight, I can safely say—I’m really glad I went.

Overall, the production was genuinely impressive. It was entertaining, well put together, and from start to finish it kept the audience engaged. What makes it even more remarkable is that this isn’t a fully professional cast. Aside from one well-known name, the majority of the performers are amateurs or local talent—and you honestly wouldn’t think it watching the show.

The level of effort, coordination, and performance quality across the board was excellent. It really shows what can be achieved with the right direction and commitment.

Now, there were a few standout performances for me personally—and interestingly, they might not be the ones everyone expects.

First up, I’ve got to mention the two actors playing Boris and Goran—the Baron’s spies. Ben Irish and Curtis McClennan absolutely stole the show in my opinion.

They brought a huge amount of energy and humour to their roles. Their comedic timing was spot on, and they clearly weren’t afraid to have a bit of fun with the characters. It added a really enjoyable layer to the production, especially in moments that could otherwise have felt a bit flat and reminded me of the legendary double acts from the 70s and 80s and you would of thought they have been working together for years.

There was even a small slip during one of the musical sections—but instead of it being a negative, it actually made the moment funnier and more natural. Whether it was intentional or not, it worked, and the audience responded really well to it.

For me, those two were real scene-stealers.

Now, the other standout—and this is one I actually mentioned before even going into the theatre tonight—was Stephanie Aves, who plays Truly Scrumptious.

I spoke to one of the marketing team beforehand and said that from what I’d already seen, she was going to be one to watch—and she absolutely delivered.

Her performance was outstanding. Vocally, she was on another level. The clarity, the control, the power—it was all there. And not just the singing, but the acting as well. She really brought the character to life and in my book she should be in the West End or being signed up to a record label.

Now, this is coming from someone who runs a newspaper and gets sent music regularly from record labels—so I hear a lot of singers. And genuinely, I’d say her voice is better than anything I’ve been sent in the last year. That’s how highly I rate it.

She was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of the entire show.

That said, I do want to make it clear—just because I’m picking out a few names doesn’t mean anyone else didn’t perform well. The entire cast did a fantastic job. There wasn’t a weak link in the production, and everyone played their part in making it work.

You could tell there was a real team effort behind it, and that came across on stage.

Now, let’s talk about the headline name—Shaun Williamson.

Most people will recognise him from EastEnders, where he played Barry Evans. So, there’s naturally a certain level of expectation when you see someone like that in a production.

And to be fair, he delivered exactly what you’d expect from a professional.

What’s particularly impressive is that I was told he only had around a day to rehearse for this role. Now, if that’s the case, that just shows the level of experience and professionalism he brings. To step into a production like that with such limited preparation and still put in a solid performance—it says a lot.

He did a really good job and fit well into the overall cast.

More broadly, the production itself—from staging to music to pacing—was very well executed. It didn’t drag, it kept the audience entertained, and there was a good balance between humour, storytelling, and musical performance.

So, what’s the takeaway from all of this?

If you’re someone who enjoys theatre, this is absolutely worth going to see.

And even if you’re not—like me, someone who hasn’t been in years—I’d still recommend it. Because sometimes you don’t realise what you’ve been missing until you actually go back and experience it.

It’s also worth noting that this is only a short run. It’s not going to be around for long, so if you are interested, you’ll need to act quickly.

From what I understand, there are still tickets available, so if you’re in or around the area, head over to the King’s Theatre website and see what’s left.

Whether you go during the week or at the weekend, it’s definitely worth your time.

For me personally, it’s actually made me think about going to the theatre more often—which is something I never thought I’d say after 40 years away from it.

So that probably tells you everything you need to know.

That’s it for this one—thanks for watching, and I’ll speak to you all again very soon.

Cast

Caractacus Potts – Paul Clements

Truly Scrumptious – Stephanie Aves

Grandpa Potts – Peter Colley

Baron Bomburst – John Bettesworth

Baroness Bomburst – Andee Jordan

Jeremy Potts – Daniel Deboo

Jemima Potts – Logan Briant

The Toymaker & Lord Scrumptious – Shaun Williamson

The Toymaker & Lord Scrumptious – Stuart Warner

The Child Catcher – Matt Gibbins

Boris – Curtis Mclennan

Goran – Ben Irish

Images provided by Kings Theatre