West End & Broadway Song-Book Volume Two, Regent Centre, Christchurch

THIS concert, hosted by musical director Colin Billing (or John Smith, as he wished to be known if we hadn't enjoyed it), was designed to give students on Big Little Theatre School's Professional Development course the opportunity to work with professional performers in a mainstream theatre.

The five "pros" - Helena Blackman, Diana Chrisman, Louisa Copperwaite, Marcus Marriott and Richard Sidaway - and the students blended seamlessly in a mouth-water-ingly enjoyable evening incorporating musicals old and new, known and lesser known.

There was so much to savour: the slickness of Sunday In The Park With George And Company, the pathos of Ballroom and The Last Five Years, the humour of I Cain't Say No (Oklahoma), Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and The Song That Goes Like This (Spamalot), the stirring renditions of the Anthem from Chess and They're Called Bui Doi (Miss Saigon).

Or how about the selections from Avenue Q, Guys And Dolls and Big Little's forthcoming musical Jane Eyre? And the spine-chilling thrill of Phantom Of The Opera? Utter bliss.