Church Hill Theatre: Tues 22 – Sat 26 Sept 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
In 36 years Showcase has raised over £385 000 for Macmillan Cancer Care, and the annual production at the Church Hill continues to provide an upbeat and thoroughly entertaining selection of music.
This year’s offering, Dream as One, is consistently appealing and always fresh. The entertainment provided by director Andy Johnston, MD David McFarlane, choreographer Claire Smith and a huge, talented and dedicated ensemble, impresses as always.
Dream as One: The opening S Club 7 Medley. Pic: Helios Media.
There are songs here from the worlds of pop, stage musicals and films. Of course, the plethora of recent jukebox musicals and pop biopics means that these are often interchangeable, but a great deal of care has gone into the programming. There are old songs as well as very recent ones; there are some that everyone will recognise and a couple that probably not a single audience member will have heard before.
The sheer number of featured performers means that it is impossible to talk about everyone in detail, but the overall standard of performance is very high.
imaginatively and sympathetically
Two things in particular stand out. First, the full chorus, who are used imaginatively and sympathetically, and whose vocals are wonderfully clear. Second, the way that (understandable) temptations to seize an opportunity by showboating and going over the top is largely resisted, and instead the meaning or dramatic import of each song is served.
Dream as One: Heather Gore with the title song. Pic: Helios Media.
This is exemplified by Craig Young’s rendition of This is The Moment from Jekyll & Hyde. This song is a favourite ‘here is the interval’ number in ‘songs from the shows’ productions (although weirdly, that isn’t where it comes in the original). This can lead to a grandstanding, bombastic rendition, but here Young sings it as someone who seems genuinely surprised and energised by opportunity and possibility.
surprises
There are surprises elsewhere too. In a production that has spots focusing on Bowie, Irish pop and the Pet Shop Boys, it’s a brave move to open with an S Club 7 medley, but it just goes to show how good some of their songs were. This is the first sight of that excellent chorus, with Matt Fullerton, Louise Chambers and Maria Przybylska taking solo spots.
An ‘At The Movies’ section has John Innes, Clare Clayton, Heather Gore and Jacqui Mills as featured artists. The controlled power of Innes and the understated emotion of Gore particularly shine.
Dream as One: Matt Fullerton and Natalie Darcy in A Musical. Pic: Helios Media.
Fullerton and Kirsten Johnstone take the lead in the Bowie Space Medley, while the Showtunes section showcases Jen McIntosh, Ross MacTaggart, Jemma Farnham, Natalie Darcy, Emily Christopher, Jacqui Mills, Laura Cross and Kym Brydon as well as Fullerton and Young. Highlights here include MacTaggart and Farnham’s attractive take on Suddenly Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors and Christopher’s beautifully-judged rendition of Abba’s mighty The Winner Takes It All.
The somewhat unfortunately named Shamrock’n’ Roll sequence of Irish songs has Chambers, Darcy, Hannah Lomas and Sara Whelan leading the chorus through a spirited take on C’est La Vie, while Innes, MacTaggart, Young and Arlene Tonner are featured elsewhere.
a fascinating spread
The choices for a Divas Thru The Decades sequence suggests that the word ‘diva’ now just means ‘singer who identifies as female’, but there is a fascinating spread of material, with Brydon, Ciara Buddie, Tonner and Cassy Kelly taking the lead.
Dream as One: Kym Brydon in Someone Like You. Pic: Helios Media.
The finale has the expected tributes to recently departed icons; in this case Dolly Parton and Bonnie Tyler (although the Tyler element does pass by rather quickly). Kirsty De Luca, Jude Edie, Andy McGarry, Gore, Tonner and Johnstone feature here, with Clare Clayton providing an emotive take on Showcase’s signature tune, Brian Wilson’s Love & Mercy.
The following bows are, like everything else in Johnston’s direction and Smith’s choreography, beautifully considered and elegantly performed. The featured dancers are particularly well utilised throughout. MD McFarlane, meanwhile, leads a large and accomplished band through a series of imaginative and varied arrangements.
an astonishing affair
Not every number suits the arrangement and performance it is given, with a replication of the Strictly Come Dancing Pet Shop Boys megamix not quite hanging together as it might. Occasionally the band (and the drums in particular) make the singing difficult to make out. There are also moments when the choreography and programming are less secure than they might be.
Nevertheless, it’s an astonishing affair as always. Varied to an almost ridiculous degree and bursting with talent, the production sweeps the audience along so that two-and-a-half hours goes by seemingly in the blink of an eye.
Running time: Two hours and 30 minutes (including one interval).
Church Hill Theatre, 33 Morningside Rd, EH10 4DR..
Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 September 2026.
Evenings: 7.30pm, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Showcase website: https://showcase-edinburgh.co.uk/
Facebook: @ShowcaseEdin
Instagram: @showcaseedin
Dream as One: Andy McGarry and Kirsten Johnstone whisper words of wisdom in Let It Be. Pic: Helios Media.
ENDS