Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Sunderland Empire

Based on the MGM Motion Picture

Music and Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

Stage Adaptation: Jeremy Sams

Director: Thom Southerland

As a staple of Bank Holiday television for decades, and then as a stage version that has toured the UK numerous times over the past twenty-odd years, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a generational favourite. And as Chitty zooms, sails, and, of course, flies back into regional theatres, it’s time once again to marvel at the magic of the story and the genius of the people behind it.

This is the same production that toured the UK last year, but like Chitty herself, it’s received a few upgrades that have vastly improved its performance. The overall production and the vast majority of the cast remain the same: failed inventor Caractacus Potts (Ore Oduba – the only new addition to the principle cast since last year) at the behest of his children Jeremy & Jemima (Gracie Cochrane and Roshan Thomson for this performance) saves a broken down old car from being scrapped. The sentient car contains magic and, once repaired and along with Truly Scrumptious (Ellie Nunn), they travel to Vulgaria to rescue Grandpa Potts (Liam Fox) from the clutches of the evil Baron and Baroness (Martin Callaghan and Jenny Gayner) while avoiding the dreaded Childcatcher (Charlie Brooks).

The cast are all very good in their roles. As Caractacus, Oduba displays a lovely singing voice and strong dancing skills, and while he doesn’t quite possess the right levels of sincerity to be a truly believable father to the children, he compensates by throwing himself into the role with great energy. Nunn as Truly is as charming and sweet as ever, her songs beautifully delivered with conviction. It is in the more comedic roles that display the benefits of a long-serving cast the most, with each having easy chemistry with each other and additional bits of business having been added in the past 12 months. The show has two villainous double acts that both steal the show: Callaghan and Gayner are huge fun, with his pompous and childish Baron being the perfect foil for her shrill and physically dextrous Baroness. Moronic spies Boris and Goran (Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph) are the epitome of a hilarious vaudeville team, while Fox’s Grandpa has shown great improvement, him now seeming a lot more comfortable in this fun role. Charlie Brooks has the featured role of The Childcatcher, and while good, it’s not a particularly sinister performance in itself. However, it still produces chills by conjuring memories of Robert Helpmann’s unsettling turn in the film.

As well as director Thom Southerland adding extra comedy business, this production has grown physically too. After presenting a rather sparse show last year, the producers have thankfully added to the set and scenery, which makes all the difference to the overall piece. We now get an actual wrecked Chitty in the junkyard, a working windmill for the Potts family, and most crucially of all, The Childcatcher now has a wagon that transforms from a cart of goodies to a mobile prison. All of this is augmented by Ben Cracknell’s excellent lighting design, which also seems to have been upgraded since last year including an eye-catching illuminated proscenium. It is heartening to see that instead of coasting on its name, this production has taken its success and invested some of it back into the show itself.

As great as all of the aforementioned things are, the show really only has two genuine stars: Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman’s wonderful score, and Chitty herself. The songs display some the Sherman Brothers’ most beautiful melodies and witty lyrics, from the earworm title tune, to the lilting Hushabye Mountain, through to the hilarious Chu-Chi Face and Act English, there isn’t a dud among them. Particular fun are the showstoppers (brilliantly choreographed by Karen Bruce) which bring the house down: Toot Sweets, Me Ol’ Bamboo and the wonderfully incongruous The Bombie Samba.

Meanwhile Chitty herself is a technical marvel. A perfect physical recreation of the movie version, she sprouts a flotation device and wings to believably sail and fly, and deserves the rapturous applause she receives whenever she does her thing.

Taking an already very good production and upgrading it has created theatrical gold. Whether a fan of musicals, cars or just having a good time, you really need to hop aboard Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – she really soars.

Runs until 27th April 2025