FAME @ Royal Concert Hall

Review by Heather Hinchley
Leggings, lycra and leotards. Oh yes! Fame brings a bit of the West End to Nottingham.

After a false start, caused by a slight technical hitch, the cast breezed onto the stage unrattled and full of energy.

Tyrone

We are catapulted into the New York High School of Performing Arts in the 1980s, where a group of budding dancers, actors and musicians are trying to make it in the world of show business. Fame shows us the highs, lows and loves of the class of '84.

Flawless dance routines

I was completely blown away with the flawless dance routines and the energy that the cast brought to the stage.

And, having thought the show would be mainly about dance, I was wowed by a host of show-stopping vocal performances.

Stunning voices

Sophia Nomvete showed off her stunning voice as the loveable Mabel Washington, who finds her love for vanilla pudding and in fact any kind of pudding, is stronger than her love of dancing.

Abi Finley, who you may remember from BBC One show 'How do you solve a problem like Maria?', put in a show stopping performance as the love struck Serena Katz.

But that's not to take anything away from the dancers. Leanne Pinder was fabulous as the hard nosed, top of the class ballerina, Iris Kelly.

Iris and Tyrone

And Carlton Connell put in a fierce performance as Tyrone Jackson, a talented dancer and singer, who finds he has to overcome his literacy problems despite his wealth of talent.

It was a fantastic evening and I really felt like I was watching the show in the West End.

Feeling inadequate

The only downside I can find was the energetic routines and toned torsos really did make me feel so guilty about my festive food excesses. Maybe I'll try and dance my way to fitness – Fame workout video anyone?