Inventive, Charming and Full of Theatrical Magic
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What's it about?
Based on Ian Fleming's beloved story and featuring the unforgettable Sherman Brothers score, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang follows eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, his children Jeremy and Jemima, and the magical flying car that takes them on an adventure filled with villains, romance and imagination.
This new production arrives at the Watermill Theatre, one of England's most beautiful theatres. Nestled in the Berkshire countryside, the venue's intimate auditorium and actor-musician tradition mean that every large-scale musical must be reimagined with creativity and ingenuity. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang proves a perfect fit.
What we loved best
The Watermill has once again demonstrated its remarkable ability to stage a musical that, on paper, feels far too ambitious for its size. Through inventive staging, clever design and theatrical magic, this production captures the wonder and heart of the story while making full use of the venue's unique intimacy.
The standout performance comes from Christian Edwards who plays Caractacus Potts. Edwards anchors the production with warmth, effortless charm and beautifully rich vocals. His relationship with Jeremy and Jemima is wonderful, creating a believable and touching family dynamic that gives the story its emotional core.
The young performers playing Jeremy and Jemima are delightful throughout. Full of energy, confidence and personality, they look as though they are having the time of their lives on stage, and the audience can't help but be swept along with them.
The entire cast of extremely talented actor – musicians really elevates this production.
Of course, the biggest challenge facing any production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the car itself. The Watermill's solution is remarkably clever. The moment she takes flight is genuinely magical and she has the most luscious eye lashes we’ve ever seen on a car.
Leaning into the intimate nature of the theatre, the immersive elements work particularly well with up close interactions with the actors throughout the production. Director Paul Hart, Designer Katie Lias and the wider creative team have also transformed the theatre and its surrounding grounds into a playful colourful world that sets the mood from the moment audiences arrive.
Anything we'd change?
While enjoyable, "Me Ol' Bamboo" never quite reaches the show-stopping heights audiences might expect. It is one of the musical's most iconic numbers, but the choreography feels somewhat restrained. The actor-musician format and relatively small ensemble inevitably place limitations on the scale of the sequence, meaning it lacks some of the explosive energy associated with larger productions.
Who would enjoy it?
Families, fans of classic musicals and anyone looking for a charming summer theatre outing.
Who created it?
Based on the novel by Ian Fleming, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang features music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and a book by Jeremy Sams. This Watermill Theatre production is directed by Paul Hart, with set and costume design by Katie Lias, musical supervision and orchestrations by Stuart Morley, choreography by Anjali Mehra, puppet design, direction and making by Marc Parrett, lighting design by Jai Morjaria, sound design by Tom Marshall, and video design by Daniel Denton.
Verdict
While a few productions we've seen recently have lacked ambition and chosen to play things safe, the Watermill Theatre has done exactly the opposite. Taking on a musical as technically demanding as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in such an intimate space is a considerable challenge, but one the company embraces wholeheartedly.
The result is an inventive and delightfully realised production packed with theatrical magic. Warm performances, clever staging and a genuinely enchanting Chitty combine to create a family musical that captures the imagination and leaves audiences with a smile on their face long after the final curtain.