Dronfield Musical Theatre Group’s Musical Minds – 13 May 2026, Dronfield Civic Hall
Review by Nicola Bourne.
Last night’s production of Musical Minds, at Dronfield Civic Hall, was a clever concept, following a journey through a range of emotions and mental health issues. Supporting the Young Minds charity, the evening featured table seating, with food included at the interval, which was a nice nod to the traditional cabaret style of old and gave a unique vibe, setting itself apart from the usual musical/play format. It featured meaningful songs from the musicals, selected and performed by members of Dronfield Musical Theatre Group, relying on choices that may mean something to the individual, may have helped them through hard times or simply appealed to their musical tastes.
Starting the evening with the gritty and hopeless Skid Row from Little Shop of Horrors, where the performers can’t wait to get out and change their lives, the show ends on a high, with Hairspray’s uplifting You Can’t Stop the Beat. Both were ensemble numbers, but there was a clear message to the audience that any feelings of self-doubt and unhappiness can, with the right help and direction, develop into joy, self-acceptance and a realisation that we are all enough. Director and Narrator, Sarah Betts, expertly guides the audience through the issues that affect so many people and explains how being a part of community theatre can be good for mental health, confidence and inclusion and that basically we all need the same things from life. Voiceovers from members of the group, were a beautiful touch, explaining how involvement in the group enhances their lives and, in turn, helps with their sense of self-worth and happiness.
It was a great message and a great way to showcase the group’s talents and the show had enough numbers to ensure there would be something to suit everyone. If, like me, you’re a staunch lover of musicals, you’ll probably appreciate the diversity of musical styles and, may even be introduced to a few new tunes, prompting theatre visits to previously unseen productions. The We Drum team brought a special something to the upbeat finale and was a great choice to “drum home” the contrast in mood (pardon the pun). I loved their version of This Is Me from The Greatest Showman! Judith Haywood, the group’s Musical Director also kept the momentum going throughout and provided some live music of her own too.
The ensemble numbers, involving the full company, were the most fun to watch; the energy increased and the cast certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves, which rubbed off onto the audience! Choreography played more of a part in these numbers and Andrea Powell and Sarah Adey encouraged some great feel-good moves, with a few of the younger girls appearing to have some extra dance experience. The Funny Girl number showcased some especially quirky moves and some good old fashioned Broadway style costumes and tap dancing too! Harmonies were good and the nurturing environment, where talents can be encouraged, was obvious.
Particularly fun was Finley’s performance of I Am What I Am! The stage was set with disco balls and his costume was entertaining, as you’d expect from this number, and, as he tottered around in heels, it was clear he maybe needed a bit more practice walking in them; but it was fun and it worked! He captured the essence of the part well!
There were some good choices for solo performances: Lily Ward immediately shone in Skid Row and her version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow was beautiful. Her facial expressions and stage presence were very good. I loved Emma Hazelhurst in Requiem and This Is Me and Charlie Betts and Aaron Sweet both gave good vulnerable performances with Words Fail and Wall In My Head respectively. Ruth Crowther singing If I Met Myself Again was a lovely number, enhanced by the balletic moves of Lily W, Amelia, Sophia and Evie and, Sarah Betts’ voice was beautiful, as always, in Believe In Yourself.
It wouldn’t be possible to highlight everyone’s individual strengths here and, of course, each performer has different skills and are at various stages of their learning journey. However, it cannot go unmentioned how blown away I was by Emily Tubb’s version of With You from Ghost. Her voice was perfect, sophisticated and characterful and the way she acted the song showed her obvious talent. She hit some beautiful high notes and brought a tear to my eye, when singing about mourning and loss. She really would not be out of place in any professional musical production and I could hear whispers amongst other audience members, saying the same thing! Wow!
Overall, a lovely evening for a good cause, with a strong message and sense of community!
