West End pairing join Southwick show team

City Youth Theatre Company’s latest production opened at The Barn Theatre on Tuesday and runs until Saturday.

The original choreographer and musical director from the award-winning National Youth Theatre production of Bugsy Malone, which starred Sheridan Smith as Tallulah, were among the creative team putting the show together.

Chairman Jill Emery said: “Now based in Brighton, Kay Shepherd, and London-based John Pearson have joined forces with CYTC to bring their amazing show into Southwick.”

In recent years, City Youth has brought to the stage outstanding productions like Billy Elliot, which was also performed in London, as well as West Side Story, Les Miserables, Oliver! and, most recently, Cats.

City Theatre Company, formerly known as Brighton and Hove Operatic Society (BHOS), is Brighton’s oldest amateur theatre company, performing both musicals and plays since 1886.

It was, in fact, Bugsy Malone that led to the formation of BHOS Youth, renamed City Youth Theatre Company in 2007.

The youth group’s formation was prompted by the success of this BHOS production, in which all the cast were children.

The story is set in New York, 1929. A war rages between two rival gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan.

Dan is in possession of a new and deadly weapon, the dreaded ‘splurge gun’. As the custard pies fly, Bugsy Malone, an all-round nice guy, falls for Blousey Brown, a singer at Fat Sam’s speakeasy.

His designs on her are disrupted by the seductive songstress Tallulah, who wants Bugsy for herself.

Can Bugsy get the girl and help Fat Sam defend his business against the deadly Dan and his dastardly tricks?

Claire Iacovou, secretary of City Theatre Company, said: “It’s time to grab your splurge gun and bring your family for a fabulous evening of entertainment and enjoy the classic Bugsy Malone.”

The Barn Theatre is part of the Southwick Community Centre complex, in Southwick Street. Tickets are available via citytheatreco.ticketsource.co.uk