Wonderful Reviews

Siblings Sophie, Nikita and Phoebe Coulon as joint producers, directors and choreographers have done a fantastic job in assembling a huge cast, including over 30 children and young adults to produce this colourful, Christmas Spectacular. The staging is perfect for this show – a riot of bright, glistening colourful costumes (Regina C), flying characters (Blue

Chilli Flying), plenty of microphones so that all the dialogue and signing can be heard and even a real life donkey!

The children and young adults in the show are superb and are full of energy and talent. I like the way that the directors have made sure that everyone is doing something in a scene or a song and are not just standing watching but are fully included in each scene.

- Pauline Hardie

The children’s ensemble is charming. Their sheer enthusiasm radiates through the theatre, creating moments of genuine sweetness and laugh-out-loud unpredictability.  Packed with humour, heart, and festive sparkle, Nativity! The Musical at Blackpool Grand Theatre is a joyous celebration of everything we love about this time of year. It’s feel-good, warm, and wonderfully uplifting—the perfect family outing to ignite the Christmas spirit. 

- Brian Madden

The 'Under The Sea' world of this classic musical has been brought to life, fittingly, in this fishing town by Cou-Cou Theatre Productions. Sisters Nikita, Sophie and Phoebe Coulon have demonstrated their love and knowledge of all things Disney and produced a show stopping version of the musical based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale of a mermaid, overcoming her evil aunt Ursula, and finding love with the human Prince Eric.

The staging of the show was bright and colourful enhanced by a well-used raised area at the back of the stage and lighting designed by Ben Rogers. The whole stage was brought to life by the riot of colour created by the superb costumes from ReginaC. The clever positioning of the 'mertails' was very effective especially when sitting on the rocks and the use of heelies by the swimming main parts was genius.

It was an absolute treat to see a live band in the pit for this show, under the expert direction of MD Ashley Goodinson. Special mention to Jill Jackson on violin as real strings are so rarely heard in the theatre now.

The whole cast numbers, particularly Under The Sea really showed what this company is all about; with every student being given something to do and everyone performing with huge smiles on their faces enjoying every moment.

- Pauline Hardie

This revue show by Cou-Cou Theatre Productions contains 27 songs and was performed enthusiastically by over 25 talented students. The show has been choreographed, directed and produced by the Disney loving sisters: Nikita, Phoebe and Sophie Coulon and they have ensured that every person on the stage had a chance to shine.

I loved the way that every performer was mic'd up so that even if they had just one line to say or one phrase to sing it was clearly heard.

The set was a simple full stage with Toy blocks spelling ‘Dream’ which were cleverly used throughout to create performing spaces and colour was provided by the bright matching T-shirts worn by the cast.

Harmonies shone through in both the full chorus and solo numbers and the backing tracks provided a well-balanced accompaniment.

- Pauline Hardie

There’s something very special about the theatre shows produced by the Coulons. Their actors, be they young people or adults, all perform for the love of it and no one receives a fee for their efforts; But this does not affect the stringently high standards to which everyone aspires.

The audience are drawn in from the outset as the impact of this period is put into context by the prologue, highlighting thoughts and feelings of young people of the Jewish faith in the 21st Century. It brings home the horrific impact of the Holocaust on the Jewish people, which still reverberates today .

The production’s atmospheric set, with imaginative scene changes done by the cast in view of the audience, creates the impression of the cramped conditions in which the Frank family lived for two years.

So what is the special quality that the Coulons bring to their shows? They not only encourage young people to perform, they bring added value - integrity in their choice of works to perform; and theatre direction that nurtures thought-provoking performances from actors who are encouraged to immerse themselves empathetically in their roles. 

- Linda Hampton

This production of Be My Baby touched the audience with its sensitive portrayal of the plight of unmarried mothers in the 1960s.

The all female cast took us through a gamut of emotions as they played out the story of a group of young women banished to a mother and baby home, knowing little of what was ahead for them during pregnancy, birth and beyond.

This ensemble of actors has produced the entire production as well as performing the show itself and the result is a charming and poignant piece. There are strong performances from all six women as they each play out very different female characters thrown together through circumstance.

If this is a taste of what they are to produce in the future, then I look forward to seeing what they come up with next. This brave and bold group of women with a vision to create quality theatre shows in Blackpool deserve to grow a strong and powerful reputation as their company progresses.

- Linda Hampton