As an NSTA Representative, I had the great pleasure of attending the Chigwell School production of the musical Anastasia on Thursday 4th December 2025. Under the expert guidance of Director Miss Parkinson, this rendition of the classic musical was a magical evening of musical theatre.
Based on the 1997 animated Disney film of the same name, Anastasia reimagines the legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, who was rumoured to have escaped the execution of the Russian Imperial family in 1918. The stage musical – with music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and book by Terrence McNally – sparkles with enchanting numbers such as “Once Upon A December” and “Paris Holds the Key”. A protective amnesia puts Anastasia in the St Petersburg wilderness before she re-emerges as Anya, and is taken under the wings of conmen Vlad and Dmitri, later reuniting with her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, in the safer boulevards of Paris. There she must choose between dangerous reemergence and romance-blessed obscurity.
The school’s versatile studio theatre space had been dressed with a simple but elegant set, three gloriously decadent chandeliers bedecking white boardings that brought late imperial Russia vividly and elegantly to life. Entering into this glamorously framed space, I knew we would enjoy a tremendous evening of musical theatre, and so it proved.
At the centre of Chigwell School’s production, Betsy (Anastasia) provided elegance and emotional depth. Her singing vocals were lovely, particularly in her wonderful renditions of “‘In My Dreams” and “Crossing A Bridge”. Betsy demonstrated the feistiness of a princess together with the vulnerability of a refugee in an emotional and well received performance. Ciaran (Dmitri) balanced this beautifully, playing the part of the Russian Romeo with an engaging deftness of touch, and building a charming character to accompany Anya into the ultimate happiness of permanent obscurity. Ciaran delivered a particularly strong and impressive supporting performance. Although this particular performance I attended featured Betsy as Anastasia and Ciaran as Dimitry, I’ve no doubt that Milly and Duarte – who shared these roles in a split cast – delivered performances every bit as impressive.
There were numerous performances that were both confident and endearing throughout this talented cast, with a number of stand-out performances. As the revolutionary police chief dedicated to tracking down the last vestiges of the Imperial family, Holly (Gleb) offered commanding authority, dignity, and a Javert-like commitment to the chase. Her ultimate showdown with Anya was powerful and effective, bringing the story to a climax. As Vlad, James had tremendous stage presence and hilarious comic timing, entertaining the audience with the goofiness of his lovable conman. Poppy sang beautifully as the Dowager Empress and this enriched the wider production enormously in a role that requires subtle gravitas, and is not an easy role for a younger actress. As Tsar and Tsarina, Harry and Amy captured the bewilderment of a fading elite perfectly. The beautiful vocals of Eddie (Count Ipolitov) were richly on display in “Stay, I Pray You” – what a talented singer he is! Those attending the production on different nights will see other leads but, given the high standards established here, will undoubtedly enjoy just as memorable an experience.
The ensemble’s contribution was invaluable, bringing energy and cohesion to the production. The wider ensemble supported the leads well with nicely-choreographed dance movements, bringing to life smaller characters, and providing particularly effective group work in the railway scene. This scene delivered a moving portrayal of refugees facing the reality of leaving their home forever, and was lifted further by costumes in autumnal shades that reflected their passing on.
There was a quite wonderful moment at the culmination of the first half that spoke volumes for every drama teacher and technical team’s commitment to give their young stars every possible support. While Anya sang the half’s closing number, “Journey to the Past”, (and sang it beautifully), an unseen presence in the sky was creating a snow shower to visually enrich the scene. The result was quite beautiful, visually striking as the snow collected on Anya‘s hair and shoulders. Can there be any more glorious depiction of everything that school theatre is about? It was a true moment of magic.
Chigwell School’s Anastasia was a well-delivered, elegant, and charming production. The strength of the acting and singing across the cast was evident throughout. Equally impressive was the work behind the scenes: the backstage crew, technical team, and creative support worked seamlessly to bring the production to life, ensuring smooth transitions, thoughtful design choices, and an environment in which the performers could shine. It is clear that Chigwell School can be immensely proud of both its talented pupils and its dedicated staff, led here by Director-in-Residence and Drama teacher Miss Parkinson. Their combined efforts resulted in a production full of heart, craftsmanship, and collaborative spirit. There is certainly much to take pride in.
National School Theatre Awards
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