West End is in Wearside!
A West End actor is helping Wearside’s future stars by becoming patron of a Sunderland stage school.
Gary Watson, 32, from Plains Farm, has appeared on London’s prestigious stages countless times, as well as those across the globe, with lead roles in shows including Jersey Boys, Cats, Matilda, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia and Finding Neverland.
Now he’s going back to where it all began, at the Kathleen Davis Stage School, in High Street West, to help future musical theatre actorsonthepathtostardom.
To celebrate becoming patron of the school, which he attended from the ages of 11 to 18, he’ll be holding a West End workshop for the students this Saturday.
Gary said: “Me and Kathleen have been in regular contact since I left the school. Over the years, I’ve done a lot of work with the students and I’ve always really enjoyed it.
“Kathleen contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I’d be interested in becomingpatronandIjumpedatthe chance.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it hadn’t been for attending Kathleen’s stage school.”
Gary’s formative years saw him juggle classes at Thornhill School with attending Kathleen’s stage school, which gave him the chance to learn the ropes on the Sunderland Empire stage in amateur productions.
He said: “We did four shows a year at the Empire and it really is one of the most beautiful theatres in the country. It gave my career a great start.”
Gary moved to London at 18 where he studied at Laine Theatre Arts before embarkingonacareerinthespotlight.
He’s currently starring in a new musical, Strictly Ballroom, which is based on the Baz Luhrmann film.
Speaking about this weekend’s workshop, he said: “It’s important that people in the North East, or other areas, know that there isn’t a barrier to getting to London and making it in musical theatre.”