Find out who performed at the 11th Movies to Musicals in Glasgow, the full setist and more.
Movies to Musicals 2025
02 March 2025 | Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Movies to Musicals provide a platform for young Scottish performers to take part in professional stage productions with genuine West End stars. CEO Ross Gunning has led the charity for eleven years now with the goal of bringing the West End to Scotland to ensure that talented kids, no matter their financial circumstance, have the opportunity to train and perform with some of musical theatre's greats.
For their eleventh annual production in 2025, Movies to Musicals returned to the Glasgow Theatre Royal with a setlist full of hits from well known, and some not so well known, musicals including Mean Girls, Beetlejuice, Oliver, Urinetown and Heathers.
The 32-strong kids cast were joined by professional theatre stars Lizzie Bea (Sister Act, Heathers), Alex James-Hatton (Bonnie and Clyde, Newsies) and winner of ITV's 'Mamma Mia I have a Dream' and WhatsOnStage 'Best Professional Debut' winner Stevie Doc.
Supported by a fantastic live orchestra conducted by Gunning himself and with professional stage, costume and lighting design, Movies to Musicals' 11th production was a showcase of what's great about Musical Theatre in the UK today.
The young performers not only sing and act, but this year they had renowned choreographer Joey Bethell setting their dance routines. By the looks of things he didn't hold back! The choreography for every number was intricate, inventive and difficult. The confidence and talent these kids showed in executing complex dance moves and group formations whilst singing, and sometimes dealing with mid-dance costume reveals too, is remarkable.
When the kids are offstage, the three adult professionals take turns dazzling the audience with their talents. Lizzie Bea is outstanding, he voice and stage presence are exquisite. Among the many songs she performed for us on Sunday night, the devastatingly beautiful Me and The Sky from Come From Away was the stand out. In my opinion this is one of the best Musical Theatre songs of modern times and Lizzie nailed it. If this is Lizzie's audition to pay Captain Beverly Bass in a future production of Come From Away then she's a shoo-in.
Alex James-Hatton was a last minute replacement for Mamma Mia star Tobias Turley and he valiantly performed the show's popular duets with Turley's co-star Stevie Doc. The pair are great together. But Movies to Musicals did find the room for Alex to show off his smooth, powerful voice with a solo of one of his own best know songs, the gorgeous Bonnie from Bonnie and Clyde. Just stunning.
Stevie Doc herself is phenomenal. I didn't catch a single episode of 'Mamma Mia: I have a Dream'; but after seeing her perform live here on the Glasgow Theatre Royal stage, I'm not at all surprised that she won. She's so animated, bubbly, captivating and accomplished. A phenomenal performer; I'm in awe. All of three of the guest stars are brilliant role-models for the Movies to Musicals kids cast.
The most successful routines of the night for me were those where the West End stars performed alongside the young, aspiring artists. A melody from Sister Act, where Lizzie Bea joined the junior nuns on stage, was uplifting and sensational. Here too Laura Gunning's costumes looked every inch like they were straight from a West-End wardrobe.
Mamma Mia, where Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley joined the kids for Kiss the Teacher, Lay All Your Love On Me and Voulez Vouz was joyous! This felt like a mini production in itself. And it was so lovely in this piece to see the boys take centre stage. Their portrayal of the boys flipper dance was great fun.
While this year's production from Movies to Musicals can't match the sheer size and spectacle of the Movies to Musical 10th anniversary concert from last year, it was a more compact and curated offering. Movies to Musicals and Glasgow Philharmonia are such an important charity that provide a springboard for the young performers in Scotland. Give them your support if you are able. It's remarkable what they achieve year after year.
Note: As a rule, I don't award star ratings to children's shows or shows where children are the main feature. They are all superstars for getting up on the stage in the first place. Children should be allowed to chase their dreams without fear of criticism.
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AD: Don't miss Hamilton! Coming to Glasgow Theatre Royal from Wed 29 Oct - Sat 27 Dec 2025
Movies to Musicals 2025 setlist
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