RNCM Young Explorers: Musical Theatre Magic

Musical theatre deals in big hooks and bigger feelings – perfect for younger audiences, especially those getting their first taste of live music. Enter the latest show in the RNCM’s Young Explorers series, which sees The Untold Orchestra performing hits from Six, Beauty and the Beast, Wicked and more.

The Untold Orchestra are a Manchester collective who’ve spent the past few years rethinking what an orchestra can be. Formed out of a DIY project supporting local artists, they now work with some of the city’s most sought-after vocalists across shows celebrating major popular artists (think Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie), alongside community-led performances in the likes of Hulmes’ NIAMOS. They’re tight performers, but they also create a fun-loving atmosphere that’s ideally suited for bringing new audiences into the sound of a live band.

It’s a spirit that perfectly matches the RNCM’s Young Explorers series, which is built around a simple idea: orchestral music can be fun, and doesn’t need to come loaded with rules and formalities. These are relaxed performances, designed to hold attention without demanding silence, where movement, noise and curiosity are part of the experience rather than a disruption. For children – and the adults with them – it shifts the focus from getting it “right” to simply enjoying the experience, in whatever way they like.

They also get to be part of the experience here. After The Untold Orchestra’s main set, a Kid’s Karaoke session hands the mic over to the audience, inviting children themselves to rip into more family classics. It’s a nice little addition that loosens the usual divide between performer and audience, turning the event into something to be shared rather than simply observed.

Packed with music that most families will already know and love, Musical Theatre Magic opens live orchestral music out into something that feels looser, more collective, and easier for kids to get lost in.