Stagecoach

Since Vix has been the admin assistant since September we decided it was about time she got her own page in the staff section! Here she is wearing her new “Head Girl” badge with pride.

 Vicky Bilton was a former member of Yarm AM school, Yarm Further Stages and STARE. She was also my admin help for a year when I lost Gill and she was a very good one too. Vicky is finishing her three year Musical Theatre course at Italia Conti this summer. Vicky has sent us these photos and this update to help others thinking of applying to drama school.

Hi everyone,

Click on the link below to see what a Spotlight page looks like. 

Spotlight Pin: http://www.spotlight.com/0618-8973-9627 This year has been crazy busy for Me. I had 4 weeks of a summer holiday instead of 7 and had my Shakespeare show in the first week of “official” term time. Then the carol concert at christmas, during all of these we were learning songs and routines for the Centenary Ball in February, AT THE SAME TIME as learning lines, harmonies and routines for our showcase performance of Sondheim’s “Company”. In two weeks time I have to do a 10 minute devised performance in front of the heads of department as part of my diploma and then in July is our show at The New Wimbledon Theatre, which this year is a week long instead of 3 days due to the 100th year. So yeah, things have been pretty crazy.
 
On top of all this, the main stress for everyone in my year at the moment is getting an agent for when we leave. Italia Conti is lucky enough to have it’s own agency within college to put you forward for things in your second and third year and so far has gotten people cruise jobs, Grease on tour and fringe acting shows. The agency in contis also were very helpful in assisting our year getting agents to come and see our showcases as it was a very stressful and busy time for us all to research all the agents in the contacts book, make a list of those your thought would be beneficial for you and then getting the agency’s feedback about your list then sending your cv and headshot to them all in the hope they would come and see your show.
 
Theres 72 people in my year (we are a particularly big year) so far 77% have had at least a meeting with an agent from the showcases/auditions within college and 26(I think) have been offered representation for July.
 
After the showcases I emailed several agents as I hadn’t heard anything back from Company and was offered a meeting with SCA management, an agency which hadn’t actually seen my cast of company and so I was expecting to be put on the spot. I was in the room for an hour and a half and as expected, was made to sing 2 songs a capella and do 2 contrasting modern monologues. As well as be asked a million questions, to be honest it probably sounds worse than it was. You’ve got to work out if the agent is right for you, it’s no good going with someone just for the sake of being represented only to find they see you doing different things to what you want to do. Anyway, so that evening I was offered representation for July by SCA.
 
It was kind of hard not to get disheartened about the whole agents thing, plenty had seen the show and a fair proportion of us had heard NOTHING back. Then our own agency organised some in house auditions which is very unusual for agents to do and we did recieve feedback but even then it’s not always that helpful, comments ranged from “Nice voice” with little else to “Amazing but needs to update look” One girl even got “You look exactly like someone I already represent” so sometimes it’s not anything to do with YOU or your talent it’s just how it is.
 
I’ve been very fortunate within Italia Conti to have been showcased quite a lot, In my first year I had singing solos in each of my performances, In my second year I had singing solos in 2 out of 3 of my performances and in third year I got to play lead in Shakespeare, be featured in Company and I’ve been given a featured trio section for July’s Wimbeldon show. So I guess the thought of becoming a small fish in a big pond AGAIN is a little daunting to say the least. They alwasy say in college, you’ll never learn as much as you do when your out there so I guess as long as I keep grafting and keep my head up I’ll do alright.
 
For those of you who knew me in STARE you’ll know I went to Contis as a “dancer” but I quickly learned I’m far more of an actor/singer than a dancer. I think going to these schools and living away from home makes you grow and develop as a person and you learn so much about yourself and your strengths.
 
If anyone has any questions about anything I am more than happy to help. PLEASE TYPE YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENT BOXES BELOW AND I`LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM

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.

Vicky Bilton has a part-time job in an optician`s in Lndon whilst she is training at Italia Conti. She tells me that the other day Lee Mead (winner of the BBC`s “Any Dream Will Do”) together with Denise Van Outen came into the shop and were chatting to her and asking her advice about glasses. (I feel like the editor of “Hello” magazine writing this)

I know that all of Vicky Bilton`s friends in Yarm Further Stages will be delighted to learn that Vicky has won a DADA (Dance and Drama Award) to be able to continue her studies at Italia Conti drama school in London. The award pays for the tuition costs so that Vicky can continue into the rest of the 3 year course. There were few DADAs available and it is a tribute to  Vicky`s hard work and dedication that she won one of them.

Janie and I know how hard she has worked and how much it has meant to her to succeed and we are “over the moon!!”

Vicky Bilton has sent us some more photos from Italia Conti Drama school in London so we can have a sneaky peek into the dance classes

Vicky Bilton is now home from the holidays from Italia Conti Drama School in London and she has sent me these photos from there and particularly from their Christmas Concert where Vicky got to sing a solo part.  Vicky has managed to catch the NE lurgy while she is home but I`ll get to catch up with her before she goes back.

Whilst down in London for the Stagecoach Conference, I took the opportunity to catch up with a whole raft of X Students, who are down there either in training in London Drama schools or working now in related fields. Vicky Bilton, so recently on the end of the Stagecoach phone in my office,  is now in training at Italia Conti and loving every minute of it. Rachael Deverell who has just started RADA, said that she justs keeps walking around in the place, not believing that she is actually there. Robin Mills, who is in his last year at London Studio Centre, put me right about where to find the clip of his singing as backing singer to Andrea Bocelli on “Strictly Come Dancing” recently - see a separate post - Jade Johnson, an ex-student of Stagecoach Yarm AM school has finished her Dance training at Guildford University and besides teaching again for Stagecoach across the Summer,  with First Choice holidays abroad, Jade is in charge of arranging all the entertainment for the students at Guildford University - soon to be allied with GSA (premier London drama school for Musical Theatre). We were also joined for our pizza by Alicia Mc Kenzie, formerly of Darlington Saturday PM  Stagecoach who is working in administration and outreach for the Unicorn Theatre, who are a famous children`s theatre in London.

I had a lovely night re-living old times - great kids!

Vicky has taken up residence in her accommodation in Hampstead and has found herself a job in Dolland and Aitchison opticians. She has to wear glasses even though she doesnt need them but she has been told that lots of celebrities use the shop, so Im sure she will keep us updated as to who she has seen.  The first one due in is David Baddiel.  I has asked her to send us some sneaky photos from inside Italia Conti too. 

Below is the video of Hairspray bY STARE at BishoP Auckland Castle. Photos to follow shortly. Enjoy!