The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, BA Musical Theatre, 25-28 February 2025.

Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin.

Somewhere in small-town America, a number of middle-school children are taking part in a county spelling competition. A musical celebration of being young, being bright, growing up, and the consolations of a juice box - and featuring a drag bee. The show includes audience participation and improv elements, and this was an actor-musician production with a company of 17, playing 39 instruments between them.

‘★★★★ in the hands of a talented company and director, the multi-skilled superstars from the Conservatoire elevate the characters and score to a whole new level and make this production their own unique creation… inventive, imaginative and authentic… genuinely fascinating to watch…’

- Lisainthetheatre.com

Director: Tom Cooper

Choreographer: Sarah Wilkie

Musical directors: Falk Meier, Mattia Sciortino

Set and costume design: Ru Hartley-Oliver

Lighting design: Dan Findlay-Carroll

Musical supervisor: David Higham

Associate musical supervisor: Shonagh Murray

Photos: Ru Hartley-Oliver and Hope Connachan-Holmes