As November draws to a close and Christmas begins to shimmer in the air, nothing welcomes the holiday spirit quite like a good musical. It stirred memories of Christmases past, cosy evenings spent watching beloved films and stage classics. I arrived at A Night at the Musicals 5: Through the Ages at the Royal College’s Assembly Hall, expecting an enjoyable evening, and the Strathclyde Musical Theatre Society more than exceeded those expectations.

The show opened with the full ensemble joyfully launching into The Muppet Show Main Theme, immediately lifting the energy in the room, followed by the hilariously meta A Musical from Something Rotten. If you weren’t already excited, those first numbers made sure you were.

From there, the evening travelled through eras of musical theatre, some reaching as far back as the 18th century. Even the songs I wasn’t familiar with had me laughing, smiling, or quietly amazed.

One such moment was The Modern Major-General from The Pirates of Penzance, performed with impressive pace and comic timing by Will Stewart, Tom Dunlop, Forbes Lawrie and Rachel A’Hara. The song’s famously demanding speed requires both precision and lung power, and the quartet delivered it with flair.

The classics I did know, including The Rain in Spain from My Fair Lady and I’d Do Anything from Oliver!, warmed my heart and reminded me how much I’ve missed these timeless shows. My Christmas resolution this year may well be to revisit some of these musical favourites.

The society moved smoothly through different eras, atmospheres, and emotional tones. At times I felt cosy and nostalgic – though a blanket and armchair would certainly have added to the experience – and at others I sat in awe as powerful vocals filled the room.

There were moments where the performances sent shivers down my spine. A Little Priest from Sweeney Todd, with Josh Duffy and Emily Craig, balanced wicked humour with powerful vocals as the pair debated which unfortunate townsfolk would make the tastiest pie.

Another highlight was The Confrontation from Jekyll & Hyde, delivered by Ciaran Hayes. Capturing the internal war between two battling identities is no easy task, yet Hayes handled the contrast with precision and emotional depth.

Then came a quieter, tender moment: The I Love You Song from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Performed by Megan Day (society president), Niamh Page, and Alexander Ashcroft, the number was heartfelt and beautifully harmonised, a reminder that with Christmas comes the longing for love, connection, and the occasional miracle.

To close, the full ensemble returned for a moving For Good from Wicked, a reminder of the lasting impact people can have on our lives. And just when tears were threatening, along came a cheerful final send-off with Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from Spamalot, sending the audience home smiling.

There were far stronger performances than this review can possibly cover. What stood out throughout the entire evening was the cast’s love for musicals and for performing. Dressed in simple black with touches of colour, and with a few charming imperfections, the show felt sincere and full of life. For a student production with minimal staging, the performance quality was consistently impressive. The band played in perfect harmony with the performers.

I laughed, I smiled, and yes, a tear or two escaped. It was a magical launch into the holiday season. If this is Strathclyde Christmas, I’m all in.

Julia Braun Raven

Hi, I’m Julia Braun Raven, a second-year Journalism, Media & Creative Writing student. I’m co-Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor, and I love creating stories that matter to students, inspiring them, supporting what they’re passionate about, and celebrating their achievements. I’m especially interested in arts, culture, and student life, and I enjoy bringing energy, curiosity, and a love of storytelling to every piece I work on.