West End Here We Come!! - after a Magical Night
It is with immense pleasure and pride that I can announce that we have been chosen to appear in the Billy Youth Theatre West End Showcase on Sunday July 18th, in the Victoria Palace Theatre (home of the real Billy Elliot show.
All the cast of the “Born to Boogie” number will be involved - Stuart Thompson, Lizzie Heward, Jennie Henry, Emily Collins, Tori Mc Dougall, Annabelle Crosby, Emma Walton, Macy Stasiak, Hannah Lucy Jackson, Rachel Elphick, Eavie Proffitt and Ellie Manvell.
What a wonderful outcome and total honour to be included in this event, after all the hard work that has been carried out on this Billy Youth Theatre project by all the staff and students in our seven main schools.
Our children will be rehearsing with West End directors and choreographers within the stage set that “Billy Elliot” uses, and singing and dancing to the show`s live band. The show is already sold out. The news continues our long-term connection to “Billy Elliot” ever since Jamie Bell won the film role in 1998.
I found out the news last Monday but had to keep it secret until Friday when the news went public. I chose to continue to keep it to myself until after the regional showcase on the Sunday because I did not want to spoil the atmosphere amongst the other groups at the event, nor did I want to disappoint the rest of the 40 Billy of Billy cast members that we had with us on Sunday. I felt it would have left them with a feeling of disappointment after the euphoria of their event instead of positive memories of the success that they had enjoyed there.
One other NE Youth Group is going to the West End - Shotton Hall Community School Youth Theatre, who also performed on Sunday at the Gala. That group is run by Katherine Ackley who taught Early Stages for me in Darlington, for some time, several years ago. Then went on to be the principal of Stagecoach Durham for several years. The musical director of the group is Pippa Anderson, who was another popular teacher with Stagecoach Darlington for several years and who has, until recently, trained the Joseph Choir with Sue. So strong Stagecoach connections all round from the NE.
The regional showcase on Sunday was a happy event, which ran efficiently up to a lively and winning performance from all 6 groups and a joint final song. The standard was uniformly high, back stage was calm and good humoured and all the audience members were buzzing when they came to collect their children.
Please leave us a comment after this post with your observations of the show, if you were there.
May 21st, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Hello Trudy, just wanted to congratulate everybody involved in the Billy showcase at the Gala on Sunday, especially our Darlington and Yarm students. I’ve never seen anything as energetic and fulfiling in a theatre. The whole show was an emotional rollercoaster, top-notch material bringing the very best out of some stunningly talented young people. And now some of ours are off to the West End.”
Hannah Lambell`s Dad
May 21st, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Thank you Mr Lambell. We are thrilled!
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:19 am
Great show last night. Kids fantastic!
Tori Mc Dougall`s mum
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:20 am
Dear Trudy,
They were absolutely fantastic. Thanks to you all for your hard work and dedication ( and lots and lots of patience) They did you proud. Onwards to the West End.
Francis and Emma Walton`s Mum
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:23 am
It was a spectacularly lovely evening, hugely enjoyable. All the VIP guests had a most wonderful time
Helen (Billy Youth Theatre) administrator from Cactus Productions
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:24 am
It was amazing.
Macy Stasiak`s mum
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:34 am
Congratulations! And thanks for telling us - I have just spoken to Maya (Stagecoach Oxford`s Principal and also going to the WEst End) to congratulate her as she had not yet told me!
You will definitely see Dee and myself as Maya has already bought tickets for me, but that is the day of the Birmingham Choir Concert, so Steph will have to have herself cloned!
Congratulations to all at your end. Very well done indeed
David Sprigg - Managing DIrector of Stagecoach Head Office
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:37 am
Dear Trudy
That’s wonderful news and very fitting that Darlington should be involved in the final due to the fact that it is so geographically appropriate.
I’m gutted I wont be able to come. That’s 4 things happening on that day, all of which I want to go to, but can only attend one, the Choir Concert.
Hope it goes blindingly well.
Regards
Stephanie Manuel (Senior principal and Artistic Director - Stagecoach Head Office
May 24th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Dear Trudy,
It was a fabulous night, well done to everyone involved in particular we thought that the kids involved in the angry dance were fantastic, absolutely amazing energy and on that performance alone are so unlucky not to be going to London. (it makes sitting in the car on a Monday evening for two hours worthwhile!!!!!)
Mark and Lisa
May 25th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
That`s very kind. Claire (the Dance teacher for the Boys` Dance Class) will be flattered. Don`t sit in your car - there is a very nice coffee bar area in the Arts Centre next door to the QE College - with comfy chairs.
Trudy
May 27th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Hi Trudy,
Just wanted to say what a fabulous evening we had at the Gala Theatre. Looking around at the audience I’ve never seen so many happy smiling faces what a joy! There are truly some very talented people involved in stagecoach and signing up Kieran was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Well done Trudy, though Kieran did say when he heard the news re the West End, I wish I was a girl!!!!
Sue
May 27th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
The Durham Gala was amazing. Well done to everyone involved. You were a credit to yourselves, Trudy, the staff and Stagecoach. I was proud of everyone but especially those of you I taught in Early Stages!
ALL of you should be going to London xxxxxxxx
May 29th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
I feel compelled to let you all know that I was talking to both the current cast members and also some past past members of Billy Elliot the Musical as I was waiting for Annabelle after the show. Each and every one of them commented upon how impressed they were at the performaces thay had seen that evening. I’m reliabley informed that ‘Billy’s Dad’ was actually fighting back the tears at the whole cast emsemble when the lights came on!
I thoroughly enjoyed my evening and can’t wait to get back inside the Victoria Palace again! Well done everybody!