BRIGHTON Theatre Group Youth never cease to amaze with the quality and skills of their young performers. It is only after seeing the show and reading the programme biographies that one realises just how young they are.

Audiences are deceived by the maturity of the performances. Fame, their latest success, is based on the film and TV series telling of the aspirations of those who have been accepted into New York’s High School for the Performing Arts. It also depicts friendships made together with the interaction between pupils and teachers.

But above all it is a high powered and glorious celebration of acting, singing and dance by a cast of sixty who all measure up to the technical demands of the musical. It is a mega feast of dance that encompasses classical ballet, jazz dance, street and hip hop. Jodie Michele’s exciting choreography is executed with precision and discipline despite the limitations of a small stage.

The exuberance of the full company numbers is tempered by sweet ballads – Let’s Play a Love Scene (Ava Dodsworth and Zac Craig) and Bring on Tomorrow (Bradley Richardson and Fenella Lawn) and the poignancy of These Are My Children, a soulful number from Sophie Graffin, one of the teachers.

Graffin also scores with Emily Wright in Teacher’s Argument. Lawn triumphantly leads on the title song. Comedy comes from Will Owen as the brash Bronx Kid with a sexual problem, Amy Curran, an aggressive drummer, and Bethany Romero as the overweight dancer with dieting issues.

The ballet routines with Lisa Bird and Muhala Ntonga charm as well as thrill. And the thrills continue with Ntonga’s athletic Break Dancing. A basic set serves throughout with “scenery” provided by film projection and atmospheric lighting.

Once again director, Michael Burnie and his creative team deliver the goods.