Stage Experience presents West Side Story
- qright
- Aug 16
- 3 min read
On 15th August, we were invited to see The Stage Experience production of West Side Story at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.
This year marks a milestone for Birmingham’s much-loved Stage Experience, as it triumphantly returns to celebrate its 20th anniversary with the musical West Side Story.
The Alexandra Stage Experience is a unique annual two-week programme at The Alexandra Theatre, offering young people the chance to work alongside industry professionals in a high-pressure, professional environment. Whether performing on stage or contributing backstage, participants gain first-hand experience of producing a large-scale musical – and this year’s production once again proves why the scheme has been such a resounding success for two decades.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story is widely regarded as a classic of musical theatre. With Leonard Bernstein’s sweeping score and Stephen Sondheim’s evocative lyrics, classics like Tonight, I Feel Pretty, Maria, and America remain as powerful as ever. Set in 1950s New York, the story centres on two rival gangs – the Jets and the Sharks – battling for territory in the Upper West Side. In the midst of this hostility, former Jet Tony (Cree Henson) falls in love with Maria (Amelie Newton), the sister of Shark leader Bernardo (Hudson Mansour-Webb). Their love, however, is forbidden, sparking a chain of events that tests the boundaries of loyalty, identity, and prejudice.
The production team comprised of professionals from across the country, collaborated with the budding cast and crew to bring the show to life. Lighting design by Alex Johnson offered some pleasing moments. Sound design by Mike Riley was supported by a strong and vibrant orchestra. At times the music slightly overpowered the cast, and a few microphone issues made some lines difficult to catch – an unfortunate but often unavoidable challenge of live performance.
Under the guidance of director and choreographer Polly Ann Tanner, the young cast brought Jerome Robbins’ original vision to life with impressive maturity and passion. Henson’s Tony was earnest and heartfelt, while Newton’s Maria captured innocence and resolve in equal measure. Hudson Mansour-Webb commanded the stage as Bernardo, and Heaven Okah shone as Anita, bringing both fire and vulnerability to the role. Bernstein’s score is technically challenging, but the cast tackled it with skill and confidence. Vocally, there were moments of real poignancy, with Henson’s "Maria" a personal standout.
Yet, for all the strong individual performances, this production truly thrived as a large ensemble piece. From ambitious choreography and energetic dance numbers to tightly staged fight sequences and seamless scene changes, the cast demonstrated remarkable physicality and maturity, driving the show’s momentum. This is especially impressive given the large number of ensemble members on stage.
Considering the age of some of the cast and crew, it’s clear that everyone involved has a bright future in theatre – especially given the short time they had to bring it all together. The standard of this production was a true testament to the team’s skill, discipline, and passion. It was also a lovely touch to see some of my own theatre students taking on roles to support local theatre, which added an extra layer of pride to the evening.
The cast approached their roles with great respect, and this is by no means a reflection on their talent or commitment. However, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of authentic representation in the casting. The narrative of West Side Story is closely tied to Puerto Rican heritage and experience, and casting with that authenticity in mind could have added an additional layer of depth and cultural richness to the production.
Despite this, there’s no doubt that Stage Experience changes lives. It demands commitment, professionalism, and a proactive spirit – qualities that shone tonight and will no doubt serve the cast and crew well in their future careers.
With West Side Story, Stage Experience not only celebrates 20 years of nurturing talent but also reaffirms its role as a platform for the next generation of theatre professionals. This being the second Stage Experience production I’ve seen, I look forward to seeing what they take on next.
