Book: Linda Wooverton
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Director: Gillian Murdoch
This production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast by the Highland Youth Theatre group involves a cast of 30 young people, but this is not your average junior theatre performance, it has amazing sets, fabulous costumes, and very good acting. The lead role of Belle is played by Mia Carroll, with the Beast (Seb Kielczewski) and Gaston (Euan Gray) all being some of the older cast members. Every character is key to the story and they all come together and work seamlessly to produce an amazing show.
Most of us know the story of Beauty and the Beast, the “tale as old as time” about a conceited Prince who is turned into a beast and needs to earn love’s true kiss in order to break the curse over him and his Castle. There are so many much loved characters in this story, and they were very well cast in this production. Lumiere (Mackenzie Scott) was quite the flirt with his raised eyebrows and cheeky hips. Little Chip (Andie Stewart) and her Mum Mrs Potts (Jessica Davies) work very well together. Gaston and his sidekick Lefou (Caleb Owens) have great chemistry, but not as much as Gaston and all the girls of the chorus! They do a wonderful job of swooning over him, as required by the story. According to the group’s social media posts his hair alone took 40 minutes before each performance. Belles’ infamous yellow dress takes your breath away when she takes to the stage. Full marks to Sarah Stewart and Janice Anderson for their work behind the scenes on costume and hair.
Richard Clark was responsible for the set design and build. He has achieved an amazing amount of detail, especially with the rose in the cabinet on stage for the start, behind which the Prince transforms to the Beast. This was a wonderful scene, especially with Jessica Nicol’s choreographer for the aptly named Enchantress. The inventions of Belle’s father are also key to the plot and this performance includes a full working model for the quirky Maurice (Thomas Morris).
Be Our Guest was the most breath taking scene with the full dinner service coming to life, singing and dancing. Truly magical, as with the whole show, definitely something for all involved to be very proud of.
Overheard in the interval is the fact that the venue is to close later in the year, which is a terrible shame for the local community. Apparently it needs roof repairs for which there is no budget. Youth theatre is such a brilliant opportunity for youngsters to build their confidence and get a taste of the wonder of performing arts, as well as the local people getting a chance to enjoy such performances.
Reviewed on 6 May 2026 | Image: Contributed
