And all of us who saw Soham Village College's all-singing, tap dancing, glorious production of 42nd Street and gave the young cast standing ovations would certainly agree.

The show is the classic back-stage musical set in the 1930s Depression, though Harry Warren and Al Dubin's familiar songs are anything but depressing.

David Tickner and Steve Kenna's production was slick and polished, constantly filling the stage with big set pieces. Karen Revill's choreography, assisted by Sophie Ingle and Matt Daybell, was sensational.

Beautifully lit by Nigel Thompson, colourfully costumed and staged on a very practical set designed by Dan Bell and Liam Walls that was quickly transformed, this technically difficult show swept full audiences along on a tidal wave of tapping feet.

Ashley Gilmour exuded authority as Julian Marsh, the director of Pretty Lady, the musical within the musical. Daniel Bell was an effortless and charming leading man, with two contrasting leading ladies.

Jess Theobald confidently commanded the stage as the "difficult", but experienced Dorothy Brock, while Amy Biss, as the young, nervous hopeful Peggy Sawyer, grew before our eyes into the singing, dancing star.

Ellie Gillett and Oliver Ellerton as Maggie Jones and Bert Barry, the writers of Pretty Lady, were absolutely superb, seeming older than the young cast and excelling in one of the highlights, Shuffle off to Buffalo, where Naomi Rogers, as Annie Reilly, duetted delightfully with Oliver, behind a chorus of smiling, bobbing heads.

Liam Walls, as Abner Dillon, Ben Nicholson, as Pat Denning, and James Seymour, as Mac, gave solid support, while Craig Carpenter was wonderfully amusing as flamboyant dance director, Andy Lee.

The young Naomi Rogers showed what an all-round talent she is leading the chorus of girls and boys, where Jess Clegg, Kat Hickmott, Katy Lewis, Emily Rowe and Sarah-Beth Amos all featured prominently.

Musicals are team shows and from the highly efficient back stage crew, to Stephen Kenna's excellent pit band and the whole company of smiling, singing, dancing youngsters – this was everyone's triumph.

Julian Marsh says to Peggy Sawyer before the opening night of Pretty Lady, when she has taken over from the injured Dorothy Brock: "You are going to go out there a chorus girl and you'll come back a star."

She did – and so did everyone else. As Dorothy sang to Peggy in About a Quarter to Nine that "the stars are going to twinkle and shine". And shine they did. A stage full of stars.

Mike Rouse