I’VE said it before - earlier this year in fact - but when it comes to being on stage you’ve either got ‘it’ or you haven’t and now and again, even for a hardened old cynic like me, comes a performance which stands out and which you know you’ll remember for a long time.

That is exactly what audiences at the Borough Theatre were treated to this week by newcomer Tom Davies who, if his performance as Pip in AAODS?Juniors’ production of Moby Dick is anything to go by, has a long and successful career ahead of him.

With angelic good looks and the soprano voice to match complimented by a natural dance ability this is a young man marked out for the future and I look forward to his West End debut - as he’s only ten I’ll probably be on my zimmer by the time he gets there but...

It never ceases to amaze what a wealth of talent there is among the young performers of Abergavenny and this year yet again AAODS?has more than its fair share when it comes to the cream of the crop with a strong central cast supported, as always, by a well drilled and efficient chorus.

To get the bad bits out of the way nice and early I have to say Moby Dick is not my favourite show - to me it tries to hard to parody just about everything from musical styles to classic films and as a result ends up as a bit of a mish-mash.

Also, I’m far from a prude but I have to say that although I’m sure kids hear and say far worse things in the school yard, some of the obvious ‘below the belt’ jokes don’t always sit comfortably from such a young cast.

There were times I also felt that there was a bit too much going on which detracted from the main action - in the storm scene particularly I found myself trying so hard to avoid the water pistols that I missed an important development on stage.

Having said that the company’s MD will doubtless point out that something similar happened to me during a professional production of Whistle Down the Wind but hey-ho!

While there was no lack of pace in the show by any means, this unrelenting drive to the end also meant sadly that the story - albeit far from the most important part of the show - was sacrificed somewhat and maybe just a slight slowing of certain parts and a little more light and shade in the characters could have helped with this.

So with the negative stuff done and dusted, by and large because I’m not going to witter on about diction which is a perennial problem, let’s get on to the positive, and there was indeed much to praise in this production.

As always this is a company which bristles with enthusiasm, enjoyment and pure exuberant energy which bounces from the stage.

Add to this some strong performances from Miles Harding as the headmistress / Ahab, Maddie Robertson as?Ishmael, Millie Francis as Starbuck, Zoe Hughes as Esta, Falesha Lewis as Queequeg, Molly Brickley?Clark as Mapple and Kerrigan Heffernan as Elijah and the school caretaker and the success of this show is all but guaranteed.

This is more than most an ensemble piece with each member of the cast playing multiple roles and for every one mentioned in dispatches there is one who isn’t and not for lack of ability or effort as credit is due to every cast member.

This is a show which is slick, well rehearsed, well put together and as always allows some very talented youngsters to take centre stage and credit is due to the company’s production team for continually taking on such challenging pieces.

Much is written about the uncertain future of amateur theatre but it is reassuring to know that companies in Abergavenny are certainly doing their bit to keep it alive and well.

Moby Dick runs at the Borough Theatre until Saturday - try not to miss the boat!