THE hugely talented students of Bournemouth's Big Little Theatre School are back at Bournemouth Pavilion with this year's production of their annual Broadway Showtunes showcase.

With numbers taken from a huge range of musicals, the evening provides a wonderfully varied two hours of entertainment and the energy on stage never dims, from the first chords of the opening number to the moment the curtain falls.

With the addition of a live orchestra, this feels like a professional production, and the slick presentation and array of talent on stage only echoes that sentiment.

From the spectacle of The Greatest Showman, the cute sassiness of Annie, the old school numbers from My and My Girl, and the feel good favourites of Mamma Mia, there is something for every musical lover here.

One thing I particularly like about Broadway Showtunes is the introduction it gives the audience to lesser-known shows. This year, we were treated to snippets from Groundhog Day, Jagged Little Pill and Jekyll & Hyde, as well as A New World, Pippin and Merrily We Roll Along.

The amount of talent on stage is undeniable, with the oldest students clearly more than ready for a career in the theatre. Their boundless charisma, sharp dance moves and soaring vocals are a joy to see - utter professionals, each and every one.

However I'm almost more impressed by the younger performers ­— how is it possible for voices that big to come out of mouths so little? I'm in awe of the abilities these youngsters are already displaying and they're clearly having an absolute ball up there.

Whether all of them follow a career in the the performing arts or not, Big Little is clearly giving them the confidence in themselves to get up there and do what they love – and there's something rather special about that.

Their joy is infectious, and had the audience on their feet, clapping along to the Abba-inspired finale.

As always, a great production and a must-see for musical theatre fans.