Turn your performance dream into reality

Young hopefuls with a passion for acting, singing and dancing are being invited to audition for A Week in the Life, an eclectic, week-long theatre workshop organised by the London-based artistic director of the Margaret Howard Theatre College (MHTC) – and ex-assistant to British theatrical producer, Sir Cameron Mackintosh – Ben Darmanin.

“These workshops are a wonderful and unique way for local performing arts students to train with some of the top West End musical directors, choreographers, directors and vocal coaches in the international industry,” explains Darmanin. “In fact, together, these coaches are currently working on a myriad of West End shows, including Les Misèrables, The Phantom of The Opera, Miss Saigon, Billy Elliot, Matilda, The Lion King, Wicked and Hamilton.”

Darmanin, who recently became the first Maltese person to be made a Musical Theatre Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, has had a career on and off stage for the past 20 years. Highlights include being part of the casting team for the Patrons’ Lunch for HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday, backing Sir Elton John during Concert for Diana and playing a lead role in Wicked in Germany. Closer to home, Darmanin has also been the artistic director of the soldout Once on This Island (2016) and Grand Hotel: The Musical (2017), both of which were produced by the MHTC at Spazju Kreattiv. “It’s been an incredible journey but it means nothing if I can’t help the next generation of Maltese performance artists get new and exciting experiences,” Darmanin continues. “And that’s exactly why A Week in the Life has been set up.”

Following auditions for A Week in the Life, which are taking place at Chiswick House School on Tuesday, 26 September between 6.30 and 9.30pm, successful applicants can look forward to a jam-packed week full of training in ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap, contemporary, singing, improvisation and acting. At the end of the week, which will also include attending West End shows and even exclusive backstage access, students will present a showcase to their coaches.

“What makes a candidate suitable? Well… Trainability! This workshop is an introduction to the industry in the UK in more ways than one, particularly as it is modelled on what training at a UK performing arts school would be. Most importantly, however, we look for people who are eager to push themselves out of their comfort zone and who really want to discover whether the life of a London’s West End performer is for them,” Darmanin concludes.

A Week in the Life is packaged to include flights, accommodation, meals, transport and a full training schedule.

For further information and registration details visit www.aweekinthelife.co.uk