YORK Stage Musicals promotes young talent splendidly already, but now its offspring, York Stage Youth, gives even younger talent the chance to blossom.

More often, you might expect to watch a six year old's first steps in a Nativity play, but artistic director Nik Briggs is giving anyone from six to 16 the chance to develop their skills in Bugsy Malone, the perfect choice, aside from Annie!, for theatre colts and fillies to learn the ropes.

This is the stage version of Alan Parker's 1976 musical gangster film, wherein the British director-writer and his composer, Paul Williams, delight in a tongue-in-cheek look at gang warfare in 1920s America. The absurdities, mannerism and machinations of adult behaviour are played out by children, who play it deadly serious and straight as they portray gangs squaring off in a rivalry in New York.

Sensibly, Briggs has his cast of more than 40 settling for generic American accents, although where the script specifically calls for Big Apple accents, they make the most of it to humorous effect.

Ideal for young performers, Bugsy Malone has fantastic roles for principals and ensemble alike, as brought out in the choreography of Liz Wriglesworth and Verity Carr, which is one of the production's strongest hands, especially in such numbers as My Name Is Tallulah and So You Wanna Be A Boxer.

Just to remind you what happens, Dandy Dan's gang has gotten the upper hand since obtaining the "splurge" gun, a weapon that shoots whipped cream. Bugsy Malone, a one-time boxer, is thrust reluctantly into the gangster limelight when he becomes the last chance of survival for Fat Sam's gang. All Bugsy wants to do is spend time with his new love Blousey, but alas that ain't on the cards for the hero.

Sam Roberts leads the company impressively, playing the narrator Bugsy with charm and cheek and chutzpah, using the stage well and looking the part in his suit and big trilby. You will be seeing more of him.

Sophie Cox's Tallulah and Scarlett Watson's Blousey Brown both combine confident, poised singing with composed acting skills, while Oscar Rogers' Fat Sam outdoes his oversized fat suit with his big little guy act.

Ashley Standland's musical direction brings out all the swing and swagger in his band, one more joy of a show as knock-out as a splurge gun.

Bugsy Malone, York Stage Youth, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, tonight at 7.30pm; tomorrow, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk