“I am continually awe struck whenever I see children performing lead and supporting roles in major musicals. Their talent, courage and professionalism is impressive, especially when they carry a scene with such ease and competence beyond their years.”

With fond memories of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the 1968 MGM movie, I was eager to see this wonderful family show brought to the stage.

Adapted from Ian Fleming’s original story into Roald Dahl’s screenplay, and then further developed for the stage, it was no wonder the feel of the show, both musically and aesthetically, reminded me of the bright and colourful Mary Poppins, as they were both penned by the same composers, Richard and Robert Sherman, with book by Jeremy Sams.

The gap between James Bond and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang looks unbridgeable. But there are many links, including, most obviously, the same author of the respective books; Ian Fleming. There’s also a car as a central character, spies, deception, a Cubby Broccoli movie and a tale of good versus bad. So, this production is a bit like a child’s version of 007. And the kids certainly love it.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has been described as “James Bond meets Mary Poppins” and it’s an apt representation.

The production that opened at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC on Thursday night is full of mad inventions, spied, loveable children and one hell of a cool car.

The local children set to star int he Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC’s) season of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang have been announced.

Selected from over 300 auditions, playing the coveted roles of Jeremy and Jamima Potts are four Queensland locals, Jayden McGinlay, 8 years, from pacific Pines, Campbell MacCorquodale, 11 years, from Kenmore Hills, Sophie Moman, 10 years, from daisy Hill and Emma Cobb, 9 years. from Mackay.

Along with these four successful children, another 32 local boys and girls have secured roles as the sewer children; those who live in the sewers underneath the destardly Baron Bomburst’s castle, to escape from the evil Child Catcher.

Director Roger Hodgman who sits in on all the children’s auditions believes that the children who have been cast in the QPAC production are some of the best he has seen so far.

In a mirror-lined rehearsal room deep in the backstage maze of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, four small children are buzzing with excitement. Skipping, pirouetting, and dropping to the floor in splits at random moments, they have never met before but they all have something in common – a very big secret that they can’t reveal to even their closest friends, until it is announces exclusively in this week’s Brisbane News.

Meet Emma Cobb, Jayden McGinlay, Campbell MacCorquodale and Sophie Moman.

Bright eyed and bursting with enthusiasm, these pint-sized talents are the Queensland kids who will share the lead roles in the blockbuster family musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Gold Coast eight-year-old Jayden McGinlay has won the role of Jeremy, son of eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre season of the stage musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.