Birmingham Hippodrome- until 15th August 2026
Reviewed by Emma Millward
4****
Every summer, Birmingham Hippodrome plays host to National Youth Music Theatre, giving its young performers the opportunity to take to the stage of one of the UK’s major theatres. This year’s programme features West Side Story, Just So and Everyday. Under the direction of Georgie Rankcom, Just So, with music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, brings Rudyard Kipling’s much-loved animal stories to life, following Elephant’s Child on a journey of discovery as he encounters a colourful collection of creatures. In the hands of NYMT’s young company, it becomes an entertaining celebration of curiosity, individuality and finding your place in the world.
The three central performances are definite standouts. Daniel Lee captures Elephant’s Child’s insatiable curiosity and awe as he discovers the world around him. Sophie Ellis-Kemp gives Kolokolo Bird a wonderfully distinctive personality, as a straight-talking Scouser with plenty of attitude and humour. Stanley Searl brings a sassy presence to the Eldest Magician, proving an engaging narrator throughout.
Around the central trio, the wider cast bring their own personalities to the animal kingdom. Millie Henderson’s Giraffe and Daisy Winbolt-Robertson’s Zebra find themselves pursued by Kit Barnes’ Jaguar and Samuel Palliser Kehoe’s Leopard in an amusingly flirtatious dynamic. Archie Elliot is suitably menacing as the Crocodile who attempts to capture the oblivious Elephant’s Child. Joshua Simango gives a wonderfully blustering performance as the Rhino, while Lucas Theodorou’s Kangaroo and Florence Swann’s Dingo Dog bring a zany energy to the stage as they race each other. Sam Darcy and Victoria Mokumo give entertaining performances as the Parsee Man and his perpetually frustrated Cooking Stove.
The catchy score gives the main characters their moments to shine, while Sam Wilson-Freeman’s choreography covers a broad range of styles. The ensemble move confidently between the numbers. There is even room for a few gloriously well-placed jazz hands!
The stripped-back set by Libby Todd is very effective. Rather than disguising the theatre’s mechanics behind elaborate scenery, the stairs and gantry are left exposed, creating an intentionally undressed backdrop. Backstage flight cases, storage boxes and clothes rails are cleverly incorporated into the action. A large red case bearing the NYMT logo becomes the boat carrying Elephant’s Child and Kolokolo Bird, while smaller flight cases are transformed into individual tap-dancing platforms for a memorable tap routine. It is a wonderfully inventive approach, proving how a little imagination can turn functional backstage objects into something entirely different on stage.
Costumes by Claire Thomas adopt a similarly imaginative approach. Clever details and embellishments identify the animals without resorting to elaborate costumes. A sparkly jacket and top hat give the Rhino plenty of personality, while animal-print tops distinguish the Giraffe and Zebra, as well as the Leopard and Jaguar. Kolokolo Bird’s outfit features subtle feathers running down the arms. The Kangaroo’s sporty orange tracksuit with added pom-poms representing his growing leg muscles is a particularly clever design.
As with any live performance, there were a few moments when lines slipped up, but the performers recovered quickly. Some of the faster passages of dialogue were occasionally difficult to catch, but these were minor moments in an otherwise confident performance. What shines through most strongly is the enthusiasm of the young company. Just So may have a simple visual aesthetic, but it is bursting with ambition and creativity. With its catchy score, clever staging, and fully committed young cast, it is an enjoyable showcase of what NYMT’s performers can achieve.
Just so joyful!