Review Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Palace Theatre Manchester
The 2025 UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has flown on to the Palace Theatre stage offering a delightful revival of a beloved classic.
A big fan of the film of the same name, I was excited to see one of my favourites come to life on the stage with my twelve-year-old daughter.
The show follows the Ian Flemming story of eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, his two children, and their magical car, Chitty, as they embark on an unforgettable adventure.
Directed by Thom Southerland, it was great to see that the production follows the movie with all it’s whimsical charm whilst incorporating innovative staging and vibrant performances.
Ore Oduba plays Caractacus Potts and with the role in the film being played by Dick Van Dyke he has big shoes to fill. it was great to see that he brings warmth and charisma to the role. His rendition of “Me Ol’ Bamboo” was a show-stopping highlight proving that he is a versatile performer.
Ellie Nunn takes on the role of Potts love interest Truly Scrumptious. She is equally captivating, exuding charm and grace whilst portraying the strong, fiesty woman who can certainly hold her own.
The roles of the Potts children Jeremy and Jemima are played by a number of different children during the run. We were treated to Charlie Banks and Lara Simon who were both perfect for the roles, had lovely voices and are extremely talented. They had great chemistry with Nunn and Oduba and their rendition of Truly Scrumptious was very touching.
Eastender’s Charlie Brooks Plays the Childcatcher. She had a perfect balance between sarcastic humor and a scary presence with the little ones in the audience shrinking in their chairs as she sniffed out children from the stage.
If you are bringing younger kids, you may want to prepare them for the character, as one mum told me after the show that her son did find her extremely scary, but that it didn’t spoil his overall experience of the show.
In fact, I have to say all the cast were amazing, each giving truly memorable performances.
Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph, who play the Vulgarian spies Boris and Goran were the perfect hilarious duo. Their funny inuendos, which had the adults in stitches and my daughter looking puzzled – just as it should be.
The Baron and Baroness played by Martin Callaghan and Jenny Gayner also brought the laughs in a fun, quirky way.
Fans of the film will be glad to hear The Sherman Brothers’ cherished score was all present with songs like “Toot Sweets”, “Hushabye Mountain” and ‘Chitty Bang Bang’ and it was extremely hard not to sing-along with the cast. I did treat my daughter to my versions on the way home – much to her dismay.
If you know the story, you will be aware that it takes the characters to the most marvelous locations and it was great to see that the design team did them justice.
No expense was spared, with use of puppetry, model cars mixed with grand dynamic backdrops which transported the audience from the likes of the junkyard, and the Pott’s workshop, to the seaside and Vulgaria seamlessly. The fun fair depicted with fun costumes was very clever and worked extremely well.
Of course, the iconic flying car, Chitty is at the heart of the show and didn’t disappoint. Every time Chitty was revealed on the stage, she was greeted with the biggest applause. The moment she takes flight is nothing short of magical, eliciting gasps and leaving me with goosebumps.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a lovely heartwarming show full of magic for all family members and is sure to leave you feeling nostalgic and a huge smile on your face.
You can catch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Palace Theatre Manchester until Sunday 16th March 2025.
