Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation of the 2003 Richard Linklater film finally embarks on a UK tour opening its Bradford run to a packed-out audience, predominantly comprised of families. As the show’s youngest cast members are its biggest stars, it seems fitting that their peers are their most enthusiastic fans.

Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes adapted the film for the theatre and opens School of Rock with No Vacancy playing on stage, introducing the audience to failing would be rock star, Dewey Finn, and his band. Ejected from the group and desperate for rent money, Dewey takes on his flatmate’s identity and cheats his way into a job as a substitute teacher at a well-renowned private school. Unable to teach anything but music, he secretly trains up his class to enter them into a Battle of the Bands competition. Fellowes’ story and script closely follows the film’s, requiring some serious suspension of disbelief that’s helped along by Glenn Slater’s catchy lyrics and Webber’s harmonies.

Although Jake Sharp plays the protagonist, Dewey Finn, Rebecca Lock as headmistress, Rosalie Mullins, and the entire child cast far outshine him. While he certainly resembles Jack Black’s character and is able to pull off comedic dialogue, the musical demands of the role are beyond him, resulting in some very mediocre songs. That said, the rest of the cast ably carry the show with the lively "You're in the Band" and "Stick it to the Man" as stand-out numbers. Souparnika Nair as Tomika, gives an especially impressive performance; a spine-tingling rendition of Amazing Grace seemingly comes from no-where and is the start of other equally beautiful solos, especially from one so young.

Anna Louizos’ wood-panelled set perfectly captures the prestige of Horace Green school and fluidly moves between this primary location and others. Laurence Connor cleverly directs a montage piece showing key students in their homes as they movingly sing “If Only You Would Listen”, later emotionally reprised in Dewey’s bedroom. In the "dive bar" Lock gives a powerhouse, almost operatic, performance of "Where did the Rock go?".

High energy and slapstick in style, School of Rock is the perfect holiday entertainment and the standing ovation given by some to its young cast was certainly deserved.

School of Rock shows at The Alhambra from October 25 to 30 before continuing its tour of the UK and Ireland:

https://uktour.schoolofrockthemusical.com/tour-dates/

By Leo Owen

Picture by Paul Coltas