West End Triumph!!
I have had the most amazing few days down in London. I have been positively consumed by pride throughout it all. See below for my photo diary:-
Friday 12th June
Left Darlington with my son Jonathan by train for LOndon. Spent some time in Covent Garden before I left him to look up old friends whilst I went to see Robin Mills (X student of Darlington Further Stages) play Angel in London Studios` version of “Rent” in the warmest theatre I have ever been in, in my life. This was the final showcase presentation for Robin at the end of his three year course in Musical Theatre at London Studios. He was absolutely stunning in the role. For those who do not know the show, Angel is a transvestite in New York, who dies of AIDS. Robin had a better pair of legs than I have ever had and seemed to find no difficulty in dancing on table tops in 6″ stacked heels. I am glad to say that whilst I have been known to be slightly biased in my judgement when it comes to appreciating the efforts of my students, I am glad to say that my estimation of Robin`s performance was not exagerrated because it has led to his being approached by four agents who are interested in representing him, which sounds like a good future as a performer to me!!
Below is Robin pictured after the show and again with some cast members and friends who had come to see the show
Saturday 13th June
After meeting Robin, his mum and gran in Soho for cakes and coffee in a well-known patisserie, Jonathan and I dragged ourselves away to see Zoe Birkett play a diva in “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”. It was one of the funniest feel-good shows I have ever seen and one of the very few shows that I have ever seen where I could have turned straight around after seeing the show and gone in to see it again. Zoe was amazingly strong in the role. Her voice is even better and she leads the anthem song of “I Will Survive” with perfection. She rushed out to see me afterwards still in her wig net.
See pictures below
signing my programme
get a load of those eye lashes!!
On Saturday evening I was back in the theatre again to see Elliot Allinson (Friday Darlington Stagecoach and Boys Only dance) play one of Fagin`s gang with Rowan Atkinson in “Oliver”. Again Elliot did us proud - great stamina and concentration and sense of style - very professional for an 11 year old. Harry Stott who won a place as Oliver in the BBC series “I`d Do Anything” was giving his final performance that evening and we snatched a photo of him with Elliot outside the theatre. We also took a photo of Elliot`s brothers Adam and Oliver, and Stuart Thompson (Darlington Friday School and Boys Dance)who were down to perform with the All Boy Dance Troupe, and, like me were there in the audience to support Elliot.
Elliot is in the guinea team
Sunday 14th June
Lunchtime Sunday saw me outside Her Majesty`s Theatre (week day home of “Phantom of the Opera”) to meet up with Dance teacher Claire (temporarily coming out of maternity leave to see all her hard work with the boys come to fruition) and the boys of the all-boy dance group. During the afternoon we had a 15 minute session on the stage to block the routine
15 minutes in a rehearsal room to run the routine
and then watching others rehearse
before going into a full dress rehearsal.
The show started at 7.30pm and finished at 10.00pm.
It had been a full day but we still found time for a group photo at the front of the theatre.
One of the boys, Theo Close, had a little surprise for us when we got home when we discovered that he had danced in the show with 2 broken bones in his foot - but more of that later.
Monday 15th June
- My birthday - Jonathan had to return home to Newcastle and I had the day to myself to do as I liked with before going off to see Annabelle Crosby play Debbie in “Billy Elliot” in the evening. This is the third time that I have seen the show, as it is a favourite of mine and again I cannot speak too highly of how Annabelle performed. She was feisty and funny and full of fun. My assessment of her was again confirmed when, whilst waiting outside for Annabelle, an audience member, upon catching sight of Annabelle, said “There`s that girl who plays the teacher`s girl. She was fantastic - just like in the film!”. Unfortunately I created something of a security scare when I stepped forward to give Annabelle a hug. The 2 chaperones thought I was trying to abduct her. Photos were not allowed but here is a photo of Annabelle that she sent me a little while ago and the programme that she signed for us
As I was leaving the theatre, I bumped into Janie Lavelle (early Stages teacher and Dance teacher for Darlington Further Stages and Singing teacher for the Darlington Thursday school), her daughter Lucy Lavelle (Yarm Further Stages) and Vicky Bilton (see notes below). They had been to see “Wicked”. We met on a traffic island for a quick chat.
Tuesday 16th June
Time to be a tourist! I went on an open top bus tour and a trip on the river - ate an ice cream sundae in Hard Rock Cafe and went to laugh at the prices in Harrods and Harvey Nicholls. Despite hating shopping, I bought a toy and a dress for my new grand-daughter, expected in August and then went to meet and treat a whole bunch of X students to a meal out in Covent Garden.
Here is Vicky Bilton( lately of Yarm Further Stages and studying Musical theatre at Italia Conti - about to go into her second year) with Jade Johnson (X student of Yarm Morning School) who gained a degree in Dance at Guildford University and is now employed as an events organiser for the students of Guildford University. GSA [Guildford School of Acting] has lately been amalgamated into the university. GSA is widely held to be the best drama school in the country for musical theatre.
Here is Robin Mills (mentioned earlier in the diary) with Alicia McKenzie (X student from Saturday PM Darlington school) who gained a masters degree in Drama in the Community and who is now working as an outreach worker and co-ordinator in the Unicorn Children`s Theatre in London.
Unfortunately Rachael Deverell had to leave early to prepare for an exam, before I got round to the photos but she has promised to send me one to add later. Rachael (X student of Darlington Further Stages) is studying drama at RADA and has been chosen by the students in her year to be the student rep which means, amongst other things, that she has to meet and greet the guests that come to RADA, including Joan Collins, last week.
We should also have been joined by Sanaz Lavasani (X student from Yarm AM school) who is in her final year at Guildhall School of Music in London. Sanaz has a stunning classically trained voice but her flat mate had to be taken to hospital that evening and so Sanaz could not join us but I`ve included a photo here that I have of her
Wednesday 17th June
Home again and back to the Wednesday Darlington School - shattered - but very happy that I had had the chance of a lifetime in seeing so many of our students - past and present - doing so well in the best of professional theatre - all at the same time. Just bursting with pride!!. Thank you to them all.