School of Rock Rocks Havant and proves local theatre can rival the big stages

Young musicians steal the show as Performers Theatre Company delivers a fantastic production of School of Rock at Park Community Theatre.

Who needs the West End when Havant has this much talent right on its doorstep?

Performers Theatre Company brought School of Rock The Musical to Park Community Theatre in Havant from 29 to 31 October 2026, delivering a fantastic mix of rock music, comedy, infectious energy and some remarkable young talent.

I attended Saturday morning’s performance and came away genuinely impressed by the standard of this local production.

Based on the much loved film starring Jack Black, the musical follows Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who poses as a substitute teacher and discovers his pupils have extraordinary musical abilities. Before long, he has transformed his classroom into a rock band, secretly preparing them for the Battle of the Bands.

Beneath the rebellious humour and powerful rock music is a touching story about friendship, confidence and encouraging young people to discover their talents.

And that is exactly what made this production so special.

Young Talent & Rock Music Take Centre Stage

Jaxson, playing Freddy Hamilton, was an absolute joy to watch.

He brought some wonderful humour to the stage, with cheeky expressions, confident singing and brilliant comic timing. But it was behind the drums that he really came alive.

What a talent! His drumming was outstanding, full of energy and confidence, with a few cheeky drumstick spins thrown in for good measure.

Lucy, playing Katie Brown, was equally impressive.

Having learned the bass guitar in just a matter of weeks, you would never have known. She looked completely at home with the instrument, confidently playing alongside her fellow young musicians.

Then there was Tomika, whose stunning singing voice was one of the real highlights of the morning.

Her powerful vocals filled the theatre, leaving me thinking, wow, what an incredible talent. Whether her future lies in singing, musical theatre or both, she certainly has a bright future ahead.

These were just three highlights from a young cast bursting with talent, enthusiasm and personality.

A Brilliant Dewey Finn & Plenty of Laughs

Of course, School of Rock needs a strong Dewey Finn to bring everything together, and Matt Sackman certainly delivered.

His tremendous energy, great vocals and larger than life personality reminded me of Jack Black in the original film.

He commanded the stage while allowing the younger performers plenty of opportunities to shine.

The chemistry between Dewey and the children was wonderful, with some brilliantly timed comedy and a sprinkling of cheeky adult humour that kept the grown ups entertained too.

More Than Just a Rock Musical

What makes School of Rock so enjoyable is the story beneath all the electric guitars, drums and rebellious behaviour.

It is about children discovering their confidence, challenging expectations and finding their own voices.

Songs such as Stick It to the Man brought tremendous energy, while If Only You Would Listenreminded us that the story also has a lot of heart.

Seeing the young cast playing real instruments on stage made the musical numbers even more impressive.

Learning to play an instrument is challenging enough, but combining that with acting, singing and performing in front of an audience takes real dedication.

And these young performers made it look effortless.

Community Theatre at Its Best

Another lovely aspect of this production was the involvement of parents and adults from the local community, some performing on stage for the very first time, alongside their own children.

Having attended productions at some of our larger local theatres, including the Kings Theatre and Theatre Royal Portsmouth, I can genuinely say that Performers Theatre Company delivered a show that stood comfortably alongside many productions I have seen on those bigger stages.

The talent, energy, humour and sheer enjoyment were every bit as impressive.

It is easy to overlook smaller community productions, but performances like this demonstrate why local theatre deserves so much more attention and support.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved, from the talented cast and production team to the volunteers, families and Park Community School for providing the venue.

You were brilliant!

If this is the next generation of local musical theatre talent, the future is looking and sounding very bright indeed.

School of Rock The Musical was presented by Performers Theatre Company at Park Community Theatre, Havant, from 29 to 31 October 2026.

Review based on the Saturday morning performance, 31 October 2026.

Scenic Eye | Local Content Creator

Supporting local performers, music and theatre across Havant and the surrounding area.