Dr Faustus - Christopher Marlowe

15th-17th January

Studio Theatre, mac

"Put 95 youngsters aged 9 to 19 on stage in one of theatre's classic poetic dramas and the result is staggering. Liz Light keeps the action in a shadowy red twilight and backs it with repetitive, hypnotic music while her company produces superbly drilled commitment. Mel Birkill is a tower of strength in the central role and Cressida Gaffney a wonderfully assured Mephistophilis but this is above all a team effort. An astonishing massed chorus exhibits an almost ant-like togetherness in its utterances, its movements and its excellently sustained stillnesses. The moments when it clings motionless on and around a staircase like a crimson wasps' nest are startlingly memorable." Evening Mail.

We were also visited by members of the Worldwide Marlowe Society who wrote a superlative review - "Breathtaking... crystal clear... perfection ...The ultimate in synchronisation... I was in awe at this incredibly committed set of youngsters with their director of undoubted talent... A fantastic achievement!"

Cinemaniacs - Devised by Scott Burnett and Stage2

9th-11th April

Studio Theatre, mac

Stage2 now had 200 members so we regularly staged two shows each term, combining published scripts with devised shows. Cinemaniacsí exploded on to the stage as a complete history of the cinema corrupted and condensed. This production featured a cast of 120 but a much smaller cast took a reworked version to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the following year. Birmingham Arts Workers - Clare Lovell, Education Officer at the Birmingham Rep and Jess Southwood, Creative Manager of Purple Monster both featured in this production.

In the Bleak Midwinter - Kenneth Branagh

15th-18th April

Hexagon Theatre, mac

We were delighted that Kenneth Branagh gave us his personal permission to adapt his screenplay that follows the efforts of an out of work actor trying to regain his self-esteem by staging a production of 'Hamlet'. "A divine comedy - a busy company loads the laughs into a Shakepearian tragedy in the story of a groupís unintentional creation of a 'Haha Hamlet'. There are engaging performances throughout Liz Light's production: Katherine Jones (Fadge) is a delight of desperation and David Baldwin comes devastatingly dead pan to the sardonic Henry. Full Marks for the enterprising venture." Evening Mail

Adrian Mole - The Musical - Sue Townsend

22nd-25th July

Studio Theatre, mac

Danny Price returned to choreograph another musical for us fresh from working with Madonna and David Bowie. "A comic treat from a talented cast who were word perfect on the first night. Full marks to Harry Wilson who stole the show as Adrian, well supported by Emily Lloyd Roberts as his unstable mum and like Adrian, the audience fell profoundly in love with Pandora played by Hannah Johnson. Brilliant acting - bravo Stage2!" Birmingham News