There is something infectious about Little Bulb Theatre’s charismatic and charming Operation Greenfield that has me wanting to sit through it all over again before I’ve even left my seat at the Soho Theatre. Normally, religiously-fuelled, God-praising, carol-singing theatre would have me running before the first “hallelujah”, but thankfully the only hallelujah needed here is for those who spotted the potential in Little Bulb Theatre as a company. Having emerged from the Drama course at the University of Kent, Little Bulb Theatre has burst onto the festival circuit, rightly claiming awards for Best Emerging Company and it is clear why: Operation Greenfield is a triumpth. Little Bulb Theatre is undoubtedly part of the new generation of theatre makers who leave you with joy at the thought of seeing future work.

Operation Greenfield is based around four seriously geeky music-loving teenagers who decide to form a band, with the ultimate goal of winning the Stokley (a fictional town somewhere in the middle of England) arts competition. Their story is paved with adolescent changes, the forming of friendships and the continual questioning of faith in their religion. As a whole, Operation Greenfield has to be one of the quirkiest and fun-filled narratives I’ve experienced in a long time, but what makes the piece so enjoyable is the sheer level of commitment and talent that these performers give.

Whilst the narrative might be music focused as the company begin their quest for finding the right song to win glory, there is a real brilliance in the musical excellence of the Little Bulb Theatre company members. With drums, guitars, banjos, flutes, and xylophones, the story is accompanied by ever-varying funk and folk medleys and songs. It is clear that where the company excel in their geeky persona, they equally excel in their musical abilities, making Operation Greenfield a piece of theatre that really delivers in entertainment, swinging between part-physical theatre and part-gig.

The imaginative scrambling of narrative, with religious worshiping and musical tangents, makes for an utterly bizarre evening. As a performance, the level of stylisation is so prominent that it can be hard to know how to engage with the work, but this is quickly forgotten as you fall completely in love with the honesty and creativity. This energy and child-like play seems to seep out of the stage leaving you smiling helplessly. You’ll get lost, you’ll be bemused by the form of the piece, but most of all you’ll fall in love with this company and want to go back again and again.

I have to say, I see a lot of work by young companies (and for that matter old ones, too), but rarely do I see this level of commitment and energy, where the company are clearly reveling in their own imaginative creativity and giving the audience a hell of a time. Little Bulb Theatre has a way of winning you over with its charm whilst alluring you with its musical abilities. AYT is dedicated to supporting the work of young companies so it is great to be able to say that this (Operation Greenfield) is the reason why we campaign for young artists to get their work shown and supported. Little Bulb Theatre is a company that can inspire and excite the passion and creativity that theatre needs to be delivering in the hard times approaching.Whatever you are doing, stop right now, and go and buy a ticket – you won’t regret it.

Operation Greenfield is playing at Soho Theatre until 4th June. You can book tickets through the website here. Don’t forget that £10 tickets are available for each performance of Operation Greenfield for under 26s. Find out more here.