Produced by Dave Holden and Kimberly Holden, directed by Dave Holden, and with musical direction by Kimberly Holden, Newsies JR is an energetic, heartfelt and thoroughly engaging production that showcases an exceptionally talented young ensemble.
Based on the inspiring story of the young newspaper sellers of New York who unite against unfair working conditions, Newsies JR explores themes of friendship, courage, resilience, determination and solidarity. This production captured those themes beautifully, brought to life by a remarkably committed cast whose performances demonstrated a level of vocal, dramatic and theatrical maturity far beyond their years.
From the opening number to the final curtain, I was completely immersed in the world of the production. The cast established a strong sense of ensemble, with clear characterisation, confident stage presence and an impressive ability to communicate both individually and collectively. What was particularly striking was the emotional authenticity throughout; these young actors did not simply deliver lines and songs but genuinely inhabited their characters and took the audience on an emotional journey with them.
Freddie Cummins as Jack Kelly was absolutely outstanding. His portrayal demonstrated exceptional emotional depth and a highly developed understanding of character. Freddie maintained a compelling stage presence throughout, allowing Jack’s vulnerability, determination and internal conflict to come through with real clarity.
Vocally, Freddie was particularly impressive. His vocal control, tone, phrasing and dynamic range were consistently strong, while his ability to maintain the emotional intention of the character within the musical material was especially effective. His performance of “Santa Fe” was a particular highlight, demonstrating remarkable maturity, control and an understanding of how to use the song to reveal Jack’s hopes, frustrations and vulnerability.
Freddie demonstrated that musical theatre is not simply about singing the correct notes, but about acting through the song — something he achieved exceptionally well.
Jasper Holden was perfectly cast as Crutchie, delivering a beautifully nuanced and deeply affecting performance.
His performance of “Letter from the Refuge” was particularly memorable, demonstrating strong vocal storytelling and a genuine emotional connection to the material. Jasper’s characterisation was incredibly convincing, with his physicality and facial expression helping to communicate Crutchie’s circumstances with great subtlety.
The scene in which Crutchie is beaten was genuinely heartbreaking and brought me to tears. Jasper’s ability to convey pain, fear and vulnerability was incredibly powerful, demonstrating a strong instinct for dramatic truth and emotional storytelling.
His portrayal of Crutchie’s admiration, love and loyalty towards Jack was equally touching. The chemistry between Jasper and Freddie created a believable and emotionally resonant friendship that became one of the production’s strongest relationships.
Francesca Ballard as Katherine Plumber gave an impressive performance, combining strong characterisation with excellent vocal and dance ability.
Her performance of “Watch What Happens” showcased a beautiful vocal tone, confident delivery and excellent musicality. She demonstrated a strong understanding of vocal phrasing and lyrical interpretation, allowing Katherine’s personality and determination to shine through.
Her tap dancing was equally impressive, adding another layer of theatrical skill to her performance. Francesca displayed confidence in her movement and a strong sense of stagecraft, creating a capable and compelling Katherine.
Isaac Ford as Davey and Albie Gilbert as Les made a fantastic pairing. Their sibling relationship felt completely natural, with excellent chemistry and believable interaction on stage.
Isaac’s vocal performance was particularly strong, and he suited Davey extremely well. His performance combined clear character intention with strong musicality and confident stage presence.
Albie brought infectious charm and natural theatricality to Les. His facial expressions, comic timing and physical characterisation made him particularly engaging to watch. Together, Isaac and Albie created a wonderfully convincing brotherly dynamic that added warmth and humour to the production.
Adali Strayer brought considerable elegance, confidence and stage presence to the role of Medda Larkin.
Her performance had a wonderful sense of theatrical sophistication, with graceful movement, strong characterisation and a beautifully assured stage presence. Her dancing was particularly impressive, while her vocals were gorgeous and perfectly complemented the character.
Adali demonstrated a natural ability to command the stage while maintaining the warmth and charm required of the role.
Finn Walker as Race brought a wonderful sense of character and personality to the role. He displayed a strong understanding of Race’s distinctive characteristics, creating a performance that was energetic, confident and entertaining. His physicality, facial expressions and mannerisms helped establish a clear and memorable character, while his stage presence added further energy to the ensemble.
A very special mention must go to Rui Lau as Jojo.
Rui possessed an incredibly noticeable stage presence. He knew the choreography thoroughly, performed with fantastic energy and demonstrated excellent facial expression and character awareness.
What impressed me most was his ability to attract the audience’s attention without appearing to force it. My eyes continually gravitated towards him because he was so expressive and engaged. That kind of natural stage instinct and audience connection is something that cannot easily be taught, and Rui has it in abundance.
The choreography by Rose Warburton, with additional choreography from Adali Strayer, Francesca Ballard and Flynn Walker, was exceptional.
The movement was energetic, engaging and visually dynamic, while also serving the storytelling effectively. The cast demonstrated impressive ensemble discipline, spatial awareness, musicality, precision and commitment to movement. The large-scale numbers were particularly enjoyable, with the young performers maintaining energy and focus while executing demanding choreography.
Vocally, the ensemble was another major highlight. The company’s commitment to the musical numbers, particularly the full-company moments, created an impressive sense of scale and theatrical excitement.
“Once and for All” was a particularly spectacular vocal moment. The strength, energy and collective vocal performance were so impressive that they prompted a spontaneous standing ovation from parts of the theatre during Act Two. To receive that kind of immediate audience response in the middle of a performance is a wonderful achievement and speaks volumes about the impact these young performers were having on their audience.
Overall, Newsies JR completely drew me in. The strength of this production lies not only in the individual performances, but in the collective commitment, energy and dedication of the entire young company.
Every single member of the cast should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved. The level of commitment, preparation, discipline and enthusiasm was evident from beginning to end. It takes an enormous amount of work to create a production of this scale, and every performer contributed to making Newsies JR the engaging and emotionally resonant experience that it was.
I would genuinely love to mention each and every performer individually, because every member of this company brought something valuable and unique to the stage. However, please be assured that every single contribution was noticed and appreciated. Whether through a featured role, a solo vocal moment, ensemble work, choreography, character interaction, or simply the energy and commitment brought to each scene, every performer played an important part in telling this story.
The strength of an ensemble is measured not only by its leading performers, but by the commitment of every individual member of the company, and this cast demonstrated that beautifully. Their collective energy, precision, vocal commitment and willingness to support one another created a wonderful sense of theatrical unity.
What impressed me most was the emotional honesty of the performances. I genuinely felt as though I was experiencing the characters’ triumphs, fears, friendships and heartbreak alongside them. That ability to create an emotional connection with an audience is at the heart of good theatre.
Each and every member of this young company should take enormous pride in their achievement. Their talent, hard work, commitment, courage and dedication were evident throughout, and they should be incredibly proud of the professional attitude and theatrical standard they brought to the stage.
This really was a wonderful production. From the outstanding individual performances and beautiful vocal work to the energetic choreography, compelling characterisation and incredible ensemble spirit, Newsies JR was a joy to watch from beginning to end.
A truly wonderful production, brought to life by an exceptionally talented, committed and courageous young company. Every member should be immensely proud of what they have accomplished.
Reviewer: Grace Leicester and co written by Katie Leicester
Reviewed: 28th August 2026
North West End UK Star Rating: