Having never watched a Footlights performance before, I had no idea what to expect. I certainly did not anticipate being quite so blown away by this collection of interwoven comedic sketches, interspersed with short movie-clips of further frivolity. Fantastic characterisation brought together depictions of real-life and quintessential everyday scenarios that were reimagined with an inspiring vitality and hilarity to produce an evening of unforgettable fun.

This was a wonderfully witty, incredibly inspired and fantastically staged performance of sketches which varied in length, genre and characters. From depictions of scarecrows who can’t actually “scare crows” (!), to re-animations of the seven (very confused) dwarfs, to a brilliant re-enactment of University Challenge - “Why are you trying to be cool? This is University Challenge!” – the Footlights' sketches had something for everyone.

The show was absolutely brilliantly written and produced with the variety of scenes often linked through loosely-connected themes and characters. The repeated allusions to earlier frivolity, such as the recurring ‘hi-vis jacket image’, initially introduced in the opening sketch, helped to create a sense of familiarity with the characters, which for me almost gave it an atmosphere of the friendly sit-com, Friends coming particularly to mind. 

The acting was phenomenal, each performer showing their versatility through multiple personas and roles played-out with detailed facial expressions and personalised characterisation, in outstanding depth. This was an admirable achievement considering the vast selection of different and entirely-juxtaposing roles performed by each individual. Joshan Chana’s brilliant performance as both father and teacher within the same sketch epitomises the creative flexibility demonstrated by the entire cast in their adaption and manipulation of multiple characters. A special mention must also go to Luke Sumner whose portrayal of a Grimm brother truly brought to life a hilarious parody of the famous fairy-tale writers, a personal favourite sketch!

The music and sound-effects are also to be highly praised with the live jazz band that set up and maintained the initial and overarching atmosphere of relaxation and enjoyment. Easy jazz music perfectly complemented the sketches, providing melodic entertainment during the brief scene changes and enhancing the light, comedic ambiance throughout. Theatrical sound effects accompanying the sketches also worked to similar effect, enriching the acting – especially when using mime – and heightening the humour of otherwise everyday scenarios. 

The theme: ‘A Whole Lot of Bother’ linked contemporary, commonplace situations – such as insistence on "airplane safe-modes" aboard a plane - within a comedic frame that served to create a sense of hilarity in the everyday. I'm sure this will stay with me when facing these situations later in real life. Overall a brilliant collage of original, witty and hilarious sketches performed by excellent actors, whose versatility truly amazed me, and accompanied by relaxing live music. Not one to be missed – at any cost.