As an NSTA representative, it was an absolute privilege to visit Farlingaye High School on Thursday 26th March 2026 to watch a wonderful final performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but also to enjoy speeches that told a story of a cast of talented young people celebrating and appreciating the colossal amount of hard work and energy that clearly underpinned this very successful production.
This was a sumptuously rich retelling of Ian Fleming’s classic children’s novel, elevated by a spectacular wardrobe and, of course, the iconic presence of “THAT” car. Its transition from the beloved 1968 film to the West End stage in 2002, and Broadway in 2005, saw the musical nominated for numerous Olivier and Tony awards. With a music and lyrics by the Sherman brothers (of Disney fame) and a book by Jeremy Sams, the show is centered on the “heart and soul” of the titular racing car – a Grand Prix champion salvaged from the scrapheap and meticulously rejuvenated by the eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts.
Farlingaye’s production masterfully captured the spirit of this high-octane adventure, whisking the audience from the English countryside to the high stakes of tyrannical Vulgaria. As the Potts family defied the whimsical villainy of Baron Bomburst and the chilling presence of the Child Catcher, the narrative beautifully balanced the high-flying spectacle with the burgeoning romance between Caractacus and Truly Scrumptious. It was a wholesome, spiritually uplifting celebration of childhood wonder, underscored by polished renditions of the show’s most celebrated numbers, including “Hushaby Mountain”, “Me Ol’ Bamboo” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
The very highest of production values was evident from the moment we entered the performance space, converted into a thrust stage. By utilizing cinematic large-screen scenic projections and repurposing backstage voids between seating blocks for accessible storage, the company was able to transition between glorious set pieces with seamless fluidity. This technical ingenuity not only set the scene vividly but significantly enhanced the narrative pacing, allowing the magical world of the Potts family to unfold with professional momentum.
Taking on the central role of Caractacus Potts is no mean feat – the character is synonymous with the legendary Dick Van Dyke – yet Zak rose to the triple-threat demands of the role splendidly. He was entirely convincing in every guise, moving from the eccentric, tinkering inventor to the tender father and burgeoning romantic lead with remarkable ease. Zak’s vocals demonstrated significant strength and range; his gentle, melodic rendition of “Hushaby Mountain” provided a poignant contrast to the jovial, high-energy “Me Ol’ Bamboo”, in which he also displayed considerable skill as a dancer. It was a commanding and impressive all-round performance.
As Truly Scrumptious, Sophie delivered a sophisticated characterisation paired with vocals that were both technically proficient and emotionally resonant. The undisputed highlight of the production was her sublime rendition of “Doll On A Music Box”. It was a moment of jaw-dropping beauty in its staging, in its exquisite costuming, and as an exceptional vocal performance. This delicious solo was particularly effective at carrying forward the character and appeal of Truly within the narrative and justifying the ultimate development of a romantic relationship between the leading couple. With strong supporting performances as the Potts children Jeremy and Jemima from Eddie and Lottie, this was a lovely family to follow along their route.
The production was further bolstered by a sparkling array of supporting characters. The actors’ clear enjoyment of each role was infectious to the audience who clearly loved this string of fine character performances. As Grandpa Potts, James was a twinkly-eyed, moustachioed delight, fully inhabiting the character and brightening up the stage considerably with every appearance. “The Roses of Success” was, rather aptly, both rosy and successful, with James leading a chorus of elderly inventors with gusto. Equally tremendous were the Vulgarian spies, Daniel (Boris) and Benjamin (Goran). These two managed to deliver their sinister plots with a mix of geniality and gleefulness that made them both hilarious and utterly delightful, especially when popping out of a barrel or decked out in Victorian swimwear. Despite being only in Year 9, this duo demonstrated a complete command of the thrust stage, delivering their sinister plots with a hilarious mix of geniality and glee. Their performance of “Act English” was neatly sung and comedically sharp – they are certainly performers to watch over the coming years.
As the evil Baron Bomburst, Clem was no less charming, his childish excitement at the arrangements for his birthday delivered in an affable and engaging way. Clem’s partnership with the very capable Freya (as the villainous Baroness) was excellent and their joint performance of “Chu-Chi Face” brought the house down. Laura demonstrated elegant balletic movement as the sinister Child Catcher, while talented actor Jacob displayed considerable skill in the twin parts of garage owner Coggins and the Vulgarian Toymaker. And what an excellent choice of moustache was given to the latter character!
The wider company supported the action well, both in their strong group vocals, their range of additional characterisations, and as puppeteers for an array of dogs that included not just the adorably scruffy Potts family dog Edison, but also a host of canine invaders of the sweet factory, overseen by a convincing Oscar as Lord Scrumptious. Cory in particular seemed to pop up absolutely everywhere, puppeteering Edison one minute, a mad inventor the next – what a work rate. Prominent as well were the specialist troupe (comprising indefatigable dancers Liv, Charlotte, Rosie, Milly, Ella, Eliza, Edi, Kate, Lily, Evelyn, Bella, Charlotte, Katelynn, and Harper) who delivered a string of well-choreographed and energetic dance numbers, led by the magnificent “Me Ol’ Bamboo”.
What a show! When the creative team works this hard, and the company delivers, appreciation is not only the right reaction, but an easy reaction too. Moment after moment was delivered with aplomb. Matching the car with on-screen animation enabled the flying scene to be utterly believable and magical. Well-choreographed song routines kept the story bouncing along. The music box scene was quite simply perfect. Teamwork can make a dream work and the Farlingaye team delivered a dream performance and a night to remember. Nothing spluttering here, and no false starts – from start to finish, this show went with a Bang.
