REVIEW: Movies to Musicals – City Halls, Glasgow

The sheer scope of the ambition of Movies to Musicals is admirable: bringing together the very best of the West End, both on and off-stage, with emerging Scottish musical theatre talent is laudible, that the talent gathered on stage comprises nearly 60 children and young people is all the more impressive.

It is, as always an eclectic programme, perennial classics from Pippin, A Chorus Line, Carousel, Singin’ in the Rain and Chicago sit beside modern favourites from Spring Awakening, The Last Five Years and Next to Normal. The programming itself provides interest, from ambitious ensemble numbers to solo highlights, interspersed with stellar performances from this year’s West End star guests.

This year’s guests are exclusively Scottish: Aberdeen’s Jenna Innes recent star of Heathers and Kirriemuir’s Ryan Kopel fresh from his triumphant, critically acclaimed lead role as Evan Hansen. Innes, delivers highlights in the form of a majestic female vocal version of Shrek’s Who I’d Be and a rousing I say No from Heathers and Kopel raises the roof with Pippin’s Corner of the Sky and of course, You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hasen.

There is universal quality throughout the ensemble, as every performer, playing to their strengths, gets the chance to shine. Mama Who Bore Me from Spring Awakening and Seize the Day from Newsies particularly impress. The world-class acoustics of the auditorium allow the vocals to soar.

There does remain the perennial issue of choreographing for a large cast of differing dance abilities. The detail-laden, often relentless amount of moves don’t allow the young performers the chance to cleanly finish a step before throwing themselves Into the next, resulting in timing and execution issues that can read as messy to the viewer.

For over a decade this yearly showcase has been the culmination of a gargantuan effort that brings burgeoning talent to the biggest audiences. Year on year the quality continues to grow as does the ambitiousness of the staging. This year’s is particularly beautiful, a backdrop of glittering lights shimmer in the stunning setting of Glasgow’s City Halls.

Next step for these young performers is Cadogan Hall in London, further providing them with a chance to showcase their prodigious talent. The opportunities that Movies to Musicals provides to these young creatives is deserving of praise, that every aspect of the production is bursting with talent should be celebrated.

Reviewed on 8 March 2026 | Image Contributed