I felt incredibly lucky to have made my first trip to the Barn Theatre just prior to Christmas, seeing a delightfully fresh adaptation of Peter Pan. I vividly remember being absolutely bowled over by the creativity on display and the scope for potential, excited by what my next experience of their work would be.

Lo and behold, it’s come in the form of The Secret Society of Leading Ladies, a joyful game changer of a format that allows for a variety of musical theatre characters, songs and eras to exist in the same space. Concieved and directed by Ryan Carter – the concept allows the audience to build their own concert line up as we celebrate the archetypes of female musical theatre: divas, dreamers, villians, and princesses. There are 5 “Choose Your Player” screens throughout the course of the concert, 14 characters and over a mammoth 150 possible combinations to choose from, along with a finale that includes all of the characters. We get to know them a little before they take to the stage in short, sweet vignettes where they interact. Each character has received an invite and a key – and they all begin to wonder: “who set this up?”

The 14 “Leading Ladies” are: Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet, Rent, In The Heights, Dreamgirls), Lauren Byrne (Beautiful, Six), Kayla Carter (Rent), Aoife Clesham (Fiver), Allie Daniel (Rent), Abbi Hodgson (Six – NCL), Aisha Jawando (Tina the Musical, Motown the Musical, The Life, Beautiful), Claudia Kariuki (Priscilla Queen of The Dessert, School of Rock, Wicked), Natalie Kassanga (Dear Evan Hansen, Motown The Musical), Emma Kingston (The Last 5 Years, Zorro, Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, In The Heights),  Kayleigh McKnight (Bend It Like Beckham, Les Miserables, Tina the Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar), Ellie Mitchell (Chicago, Wicked), Jarnéia Richard-Noel (Six) and Kelly Sweeney (Hair, Six), and the set list encompasses everything from Waitress, Into The Woods, Ghost, Steel Pier and Bonnie and Clyde to name but a few! I absolutely loved the variety, both in the set lists – there were a few numbers I wasn’t familiar with (I made a point of choosing some of these to build my set) and within the cast: there were some familiar faces, and the chance to become acquainted with some new ones. The level of talent on display is astonishing, and at only 30 minutes long, you’re certainly left wanting more: I would have very happily sat through a longer event to be able to play around with more combinations – grab yourselves a one day ticket so you can do just that!

My own Secret Society was made up of Claudia, Lauren, Ellie, Jocasta and Natalie – two familiar to me who I took pure delight in hearing different styles and songs from, and three who were new to me and absolutely blew my mind. Jocasta in particular was a laugh out loud delight with “Everybody’s Girl”, and Natalie’s beautifully tender “Out Here On My Own” gave me chills.

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Pair the incredible talent with stellar videography by Jamie Scott – Smith, editing by Ben Evans, sound engineering by Harry Smith and musical consultation by Leo Munby, proceedings a whole feel incredibly polished – the simplicity of the set design and striking lighting enhancing the mood and concert feel, and each performer’s costume gives a nod to her character. I can so easily see this format going from strength to strength as the current situation continues to challenge creatives to forge new ground. To all at the Barn: Lead the way, I’m along for the ride!

The Secret Society of Leading Ladies runs until 7 March – tickets: https://barntheatre.org.uk/barn-at-home