Skip to main content

Review of Elf the Musical (N.M.T.C.) at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

Christmas has come early this year thanks to the Northampton Musical Theatre Company and their annual performance at Royal & Derngate; this year, they bring Elf the Musical to the stage. First staged in 2010, this musical version of the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy features music by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin and is based on the book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan, from David Berenbaum's original screenplay.

Elf tells the tale of Buddy, a human raised by Santa's elves, who eventually learns that his origins are less North Pole and more the skyscraper streets of New York City. So, for Buddy, it’s time to travel to the Big Apple and finally meet his biological father.
Matt Clarke's lead performance in Elf is strong. Clarke brings Buddy to life with all the childish manners and silly behaviour that make the character an endearing lead. He also has the vocal ability and movement to match, and he effortlessly entertains, especially the young kids, with his zany antics.
Hannah Hauser is a delightful Jovie, Buddy’s would-be love interest, despite her character's crankiness from the outset. Her solo song late in the show, Never Fall in Love, is a wonderful highlight, and her coming around to Buddy’s behaviour is lovingly believable. Also on a journey of character is Walter Hobbs, played by Dan Hodson, Buddy's father, a man who lets work take priority over everything else, including his own family. Hodson, as always, is a tremendously strong performer, confident and assured on stage, and with glorious vocals as ever, although there are limited singing moments for the character in this show.
Young Benji Bates as Michael Hobbs, Walter's son, shows immense stage confidence for one so young, and that confidence extends to his songs, especially those with his on-stage mother, Emily Hobbs, played by Hannah Ellis. Finally, Mark Woodham is everything a kindly Santa Claus should be, with a mischievous twinkle and an amusingly tech-savvy Claus.

Technically, the show is mostly strong, despite some issues with leading man Clarke’s microphone during the first act. Music from the 16-strong “Elf Band” under the direction of Beth Hodgson is tremendous, though occasionally a little loud over the cast performances. Staging is smooth and fast-paced, with director Martyn Knight once again at the helm for this N.M.T.C. production.
Elf the Musical is lightweight fun, perfect for the Christmas season, even if a bit early in the year. The tale has, as ever, the redemption story at its core, and is filled with good, perfectly in-keeping songs to keep people of all ages entertained.

N.M.T.C. brings seasonal cheer and fun early in the season with Elf.
⭐⭐⭐⭐


Performance reviewed: Saturday 31st October 2026 (matinee) at the Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton.

Elf the Musical ran at Royal & Derngate until Saturday, 31st October 2026. For information about the N.M.T.C., see their website at https://northamptonmusicaltheatrecompany.co.uk/

For further details about the Royal & Derngate, see their website at http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Photos: Zoe Milward Photography



Popular posts from this blog

Review of Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

Cruel Intentions , released in the final year of the nineties, is a fondly regarded classic from the era, rammed with a collection of young and up-and-coming stars. Based on the classic Les Liaisons dangereuses , Roger Kumble's nineties update was clever and current; however, a quarter of a century later and now playing at Royal & Derngate, does it still work, and more importantly, does it work as a musical? The quick answer to the latter is no, but theatre persists, so what about the story? Kumble's adaptation tells of two wealthy step-siblings, Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteul, sex-obsessed, constantly warring, and attracted to one another. When they begin a bet for Sebastian to deflower the new headmaster's daughter, Annette Hargrove, before the start of term, events spiral quickly out of control. Following in the footsteps of the well-remembered performers from the film does weigh on the cast. Will Callan, playing Sebastian, and Nic Myers, as Kathryn, are fine ...
Read more

Review of Matilda at Milton Keynes Theatre

Roald Dahl is perhaps one of the most famous children’s authors of any generation, and his work has inspired an exceptional number of film, television, and theatre adaptations. Fifteen years ago, this musical of Matilda , one of his most fondly remembered stories, took to the stage and has not looked back since. Adapted from the original book by Dennis Kelly, with lyrics and music by Tim Minchin, the show has been a fixture at the Cambridge Theatre in London since 2011, has performed on Broadway, and is now reaching Milton Keynes Theatre as part of its second UK and Ireland Tour. Inspired by the Roald Dahl book of the same name, this Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning musical tells the story of an extraordinary little girl with a vivid imagination and the courage to change her own destiny. Matilda is of course the centre of attention in this production, and on this extensive tour, the role is shared by Felicity Brown, Petra Hutchings, Mollie Hutton, and Caroline Ravansari ...
Read more

Review of Annie at Milton Keynes Theatre

Annie was first performed now a remarkable fifty years ago at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, and since then, the tale based on a 1920s comic strip and adapted for the stage by Thomas Meehan on book, with music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics provided by Martin Charnin, has become a perennial favourite across the world. Indeed, this version, directed by Nikolai Foster, last appeared at Milton Keynes Theatre in 2023. So, after all these years, does Annie still have that appeal? Set in  1930s New York during the Great Depression,  Annie  follows the life of an orphan abandoned to the care  of its evil matron, Miss Hannigan. Annie seeks escape, and after one failed attempt, she finds herself the chosen Christmas guest of billionaire Oliver Warbucks, and things slowly, hopefully begin to improve for the little but fiercely strong Annie. Leading the adult cast for this tour now as the cruel Miss Hannigan is Claire Sweeney. Sweeney clearly revels in the chance to embr...
Read more