IF you’re partial to a musical or two then there’s something very special going on at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre this week.

Broadway Showtunes is a feast for the senses as its exceptional young cast bring a diverse and dazzling selection of musicals to life.

The show gets off to a flying start when its full company of around 150 young people take the audience to the circus with Barnum.

The stage comes alive with vibrant and colourful performances and costumes. The feel-good factor sets the standard for the rest of the show.

Big Little Theatre School performers are aged from eight to 20 and they bring with them a zest for life and enthusiasm which an adult cast would struggle to match.

Chicago, performed by the eldest students from the school’s Professional Development Programme(PDP), demonstrates how far these young people can go with the right training.

An impressive section from Chess sees some of the younger pupils join PDP for a mature and gripping performance and The Sound of Music is a joy to watch as it brings all elements of the school together for a spectacular finale.

Throw in a bit of gutsy New York musical Newsies, a pretty andmore traditional performance of Hello Dolly, a bit of Rent, Annie and Guys and Dolls and what’s not to love?

The little ones aren’t phased by the scale of the production and got some of the biggest cheers for their lovely performances of Half A Sixpence and Our House.

This annual production never fails to impress and it’s easy for your mind to drift off to the West End or Broadway, forgetting you’re watching a student production.

Opening night saw a standing ovation for Big Little so kick off the summer holiday in style and grab a ticket.

The show runs until Saturday July 21.