THIS was the chance to settle into your seats for the ride of a lifetime.

Starlight Express rolled into Malton’s Milton Rooms – rolled in on roller skates – for Ryedale Youth Theatre’s production of this West End hit from April 16 to 19.

Combining music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and Alastair Lloyd Webber, this colourful and vibrant adaptation had every hallmark of a truly professional production – and what a production.

From the vivacious opening to the final roof-raising choruses, the young cast gave their audience an unforgettable, first-class ride. This show was all action, with colourful costumes and amazing make-up and seamless gliding from the cast as they brought the trains to life, all marshalled from the bedroom of Control (played by Ben Greenhough).

On they came, Rusty the steam engine (Ollie Fearn), Greaseball the diesel (Dom Weatherill) and Electra (Lewis Danby), the main contenders for the world championship race. You can’t have a train without carriages – and such beautiful carriages – so here too came Pearl the first class car (Ria Williams), Dinah the dining car (Hannah Richardson), Buffy the buffet car (Harrietanne Coughlin) and Duvay the sleeping car (Lianna Hart). There were international trains, freight trains, track inspectors, trains of every colour and size filling the stage and auditorium with their wonderful movement and song. The choreography by director Angela Kirkham and Ali Kirkham was miraculous, especially considering the confined space in the Milton Rooms.

Weatherill’s Greaseball bore a remarkable resemblance to Elvis, treating us all to some hip-swivelling action while he was “Pumping Iron”. Fearn’s Rusty had a crisis of confidence and was inspired to race after a very moving duet with Poppa (Leo Rowell), who possesses an extremely deep and most powerful voice. Who knew steam engines could moonwalk? Well, Rusty can.

Every musical number was loud and clear with strong singing from the soloists and fantastic harmonising from the ensemble cast. Musical director Chris Hocking led his musicians from their on-stage “music engine shed”, where choral director Martin Dixon led the cast in the singing.

The slick backstage organisation – the wonderful set, intricate costumes, lighting and sound – gave the whole show a thoroughly West End feel. It’s hard to believe most of the cast had never skated before rehearsals began; you certainly wouldn’t know it.

So, in the end good triumphed over evil, steam over diesel and electricity, and Rusty won his Pearl. When the cast sang, “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel – at the end of the tunnel there’s a light, Starlight”, the starlight was pouring from the stage at the end of the show, coming from the whole cast of stars.

Once again the highly talented members of Ryedale Youth Theatre treated everyone to a wonderful evening. This was West End-standard theatre; we’re so lucky to have them.

Review by Ann-Marie Gatford