More than 70 talented performers from Lord Wandsworth College in Long Sutton brought the mean streets of New York to Basingstoke’s Haymarket Theatre this week.

And more than 1,000 people came to watch their three sell-out performances of the hit musical Bugsy Malone on January 22 and 23.

Alan Parker’s show is set during the Prohibition era and tells the story of a gang war between Dandy Dan and Fat Sam. In an attempt to gain the upper hand, Fat Sam turns to former boxer Bugsy Malone to try to outsmart his rival. But Bugsy is also set on impressing new love Blousey.

Lord Wandsworth College headmaster Adam Williams said: “We witnessed indescribable joy, fun and possibly an over-exuberance of splurging.”

Bugsy Malone was released as a film in 1976, with all characters played by children firing ‘splurge’ guns filled with cream.

Student reviewers from Lord Wandsworth College were in no doubt that the performance was a big hit with those watching.

Sixth former Max said: “The closing song of Bugsy Malone is titled You Give A Little Love (And It All Comes Back To You). The effort, energy and enthusiasm put in by the whole cast and crew meant that it certainly came back to them. This production of Bugsy Malone contained laughs from start to finish, with a phenomenal soundtrack to go with it.”

Third former Hari added: “The play was excellently executed. The lights were brought up to a man being splurged to the soundtrack of gunfire. This instantly set the tone of the show, before Bugsy gave us an insight into his life story and we were introduced to the big number. It was a beautiful subversion of expectations.”

This year’s production of Bugsy Malone followed last year’s celebrated run of Oliver!, also at the Haymarket Theatre.