THE young people of BATS Next Gen recently took to The Haymarket stage in their production of The SpongeBob Musical.

The show has been described as fun, wacky, energetic and for the production team incredibly complex!

The cast and crew worked tirelessly for eight months to bring this undersea adventure to life.

The SpongeBob Musical is a new musical based on the Nickelodeon cartoon, first being performed on Broadway in 2017 and in the UK in 2023. 

READ MORE: Amateur theatrical society premieres musical theatre tribute BATS Next Gen were delighted when the rights to the show became available to amateur societies, giving them the opportunity to produce another show which had never been seen in Basingstoke, after their highly acclaimed production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in 2023.

Jacqui Ball, long-time supporter of the society and regular reviewer of performances from many societies had this to say:

There was a wonderfully welcoming feeling arriving at The Haymarket for BATS Next Gen’s production of The SpongeBob Musical. A quartet of singers in the foyer, setting the scene for what promised to be a show like no other.

The SpongeBob Musical is all about ambition, love, friendship, determination, courage, persistence, community - it is also completely, delightfully, deliciously bonkers. It’s set in the watery depths of Bikini Bottom, a community suddenly under threat from volcanic eruption. This threatening scenario unleashed a regular tsunami of talent from this company of young people.

Under the enthusiastic direction of Owen White with musical director Tori Eglin, choreographers Hollie Parks and Ryan Stevens, and assistant musical director Jack Baldwin, the company produced an entertaining, high energy, musically excellent show. It was especially good to notice that several of the creative team, including Owen, Tori and Jack, were former members of BATS Next Gen themselves, so playing forward the benefits and fun they had experienced as youngsters.

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Scarlett Boyle played the title character: dear, hopeful SpongeBob who doesn’t know how to prove to their employer, the grasping Mr Krabs (Alex Matthews) that they are more than a “simple sponge” and radiating optimism and positivity. Their rendition of (Just a) Simple Sponge, backed by an invisible but beautifully harmonious choir of BATS Next Gen alumni was one of many show highlights. Throughout the show, Scarlett commanded the stage and had the audience right behind her, quite an achievement for one so young.

Imy Tickle played SpongeBob’s friend Patrick Star, with the two together exploring both the heights and depths of friendship. After swearing they were Best Friends Forever (another great song, with comic effects) fickle Patrick was led away by the hero-worship of a shoal of sardines – I did tell you the show was bonkers! SpongeBob and Patrick’s duet (I Guess I) Miss You was beautifully delivered and unexpectedly poignant in a fun show.

Edward Walton, managing the added impediment of four legs with considerable aplomb, was Squidward Tentacles, despairing of ever proving himself to his (unseen) mother. Rudy Gould made the most of his role as the villainous and menacing Sheldon Plankton, ably aided and abetted by his on-off partner Karen the Computer, played with panache by Abbie Fernandez.

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Faced with potential wipeout, the Bikini Bottom community displayed confusion and chaos. For some it was the need to blame somebody – with Sandy Cheeks the squirrel (Mia May) being targeted by some of the fishy community for being a land-based mammal. For Mr Krabs it was the opportunity to make money, ignoring the attempts of his daughter, Pearl (Poppy Roberts Silverthorne) to gain his attention and love. For Mrs Mayor (Seren Morris) it was attempting to restore control as the government failed to, well, govern. For the sardines, it was the need to find a saviour to follow – with disastrous impact on Patrick and SpongeBob’s friendship.

Not to be forgotten is the strength of the Ensemble, a treat of imaginative choreography in keeping with the craziness of the show, coupled with excellent singing in harmony by the whole cast.

The generosity of two local charities, Basingstoke-based The Four Lanes Trust and Hampshire-based The Belgae Trust helped to fund the huge array of spectacular costumes which brought colour, eccentricity and fun, adding a great deal to the visual impact of the show. Lighting and sound effects were also fabulous, adding to the fun and delight of the audience.

I loved every minute of the show. I loved the antics of Patchy the Pirate (Mikey Cloete) with his band of merry men, and most of all, I loved the unfailing energy of the whole company who never seemed to miss a beat, or an opportunity to demonstrate the sheer joyful silliness of a show starring lobsters, crabs, jellyfish, plankton, and a sea snail who meowed like a cat.

Long live SpongeBob SquarePants!

BATS Next Gen’s next adventure is their two-week summer school production of Matilda Jr. which can be seen at Central Studio from August 29-31. For tickets, go to ticketsource.co.uk/bats-next-gen.

For more information about the society visit batsnextgen.co.uk.