Path to media career helped by performing with Junior Showtime

A LETTER from a reader last week had me skipping down memory lane.

The sender — I’ll call her MS, as I have only her postal address and didn’t have time to check with her — pointed out that in a recent article about Dundee theatre, I forgot to mention the Whitehall.

Along with a group of volunteers, she is dedicated to working at the Whitehall, helping run various shows.

And suddenly half of my childhood flashed past. As a proud member of Junior Showtime I — along with a large group of Dundee kids — acted, sang and danced for all our worth during production after production.

There was my stint as a Rupert the Bear extra — not quite able to see through my itchy homemade mask which made keeping time with our routine tricky.

And my moment as a Dolly, dressed in frilly knickers and party frock aged seven or eight.

Come to think of it, I think my mum jumped at any opportunity to dress me in frilly knickers until I was 12.

MS said huge work has been done at the Whitehall Theatre to ensure it is still at the beating heart of Dundee’s arts.

This makes me happy. Children have enough homework to contend with and enough rainy days that force them indoors in front of the TV — the thought of our wee ones lighting up and performing, tapping into a talent that otherwise might have remained dormant, is heartwarming. It won’t be for every kid — many are naturally shy or just not comfortable in front of a large audience.

But for others, a starring role or tiny part at the Whitehall could unlock the door to a lifetime — or even a few years — of happiness.

I absolutely credit it with helping me go on to a career in media.

What’s tough for parents is striking the balance between giving our kids the opportunities they deserve — we’ll only know if they are budding tennis, swimming or singing stars if we send them to lessons or groups. But with that comes expense, and if you joined every class going, you’d need a second mortgage.

Sometimes, in the cacophony of posters and leaflets out there, theatre groups are overlooked. And they really shouldn’t be. Children can be unhappy for all sorts of reasons — they don’t fit in, have an unhappy family life, or haven’t found the thing they’re good at.

That moment on stage, when the world disappears and your heart beats faster and stronger as you make your audience smile — that child shines.

And who knows where that journey may take them?

Junior Showtime members and War Time Wives at their rehearsal for Showtime Extravaganza at the Whitehall Theatre in June 1994.