Youth given chance to shine on biggest stage
More than 1,000 people auditioned for the Birmingham Hippodrome’s first ever youth production – West Side Story. ROZ LAWS meets the director plus ‘Tony’ and ‘Maria’
SOMEWHERE, there’s a place for us – and for 40 talented young Midlanders, that’s on the stage of Birmingham Hippodrome as they perform West Side Story. The theatre is staging its first home-grown youth production, as part of celebrations to mark its
120th birthday.
More than 1,000 people from across the region, aged between 14 and 25, auditioned for roles in the classic musical. After extensive auditions, 40 were chosen to bring to life the tale of star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria, on either side of the divide between the Jets and Sharks gangs in 1950s New York.
Although it was written more than 60 years ago and is based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the story has relatable themes for today’s teenagers, of gangs, knife crime, racism and exclusion, as well as first love.
And this production, on the main stage for three nights, has added some modern twists – there are hip hop and street dance moves and Officer Krupke, who tries to keep the teenagers in line, is now a woman.
Leading the cast as Tony and Maria are 16-year-old Alex Cook from Kingswinford and Kamilla Fernandes, 18, from Coventry.
They are joined by Ruby Hewitt, 19, from Harborne, as Anita, Gibsa Bah, 18, from Great Barr, as Barnardo, Matthew Pandya, 18, from Coventry, as Riff, Olivia Allen, 21, from Harborne, as Anybodys and Carter Smith, 16, from Yardley, as Chino.
Director Matt Hawksworth says: “I’ve always known the West Midlands has a fabulous pool of talent, but to see them all in one place is astonishing.
“The response to our call-out was overwhelming and we had to add seven extra days of auditions to see everyone. They came from right across the region, from diverse backgrounds and with all levels of experience.
“At a time when the arts are up against it, it’s amazing that the Hippodrome has given them this platform. To be able to perform on the main stage and use all the wonderful facilities here is a real privilege.
“I hope we will honour what an iconic show West Side Story is, while putting a fresh twist on it. The audiences will be in for some exciting surprises!
“Although it’s set in the 1950s, the
themes resonate with what a lot of young people experience in 2019. Issues of gangs, social exclusion and inequalities – in that way, it could be taking place today.
“We talked about that in rehearsals and the cast are drawing on their own experiences. The focus is on them having a wonderful time, and they’ve had a lot of laughs while forming friendships. But we’ve also been able to bring out their stories and that’s been quite emotional at times. They’ve been incredibly mature and very honest.
“The ultimate message of the show is an eternal hope for a better future when we stand together. And we hope the momentum of West Side Story will carry on and there will be more opportunities for youngsters in the future.”
For lead actors Kamilla and Alex, the future is already looking bright as they plot careers in the theatre.
Kamilla won the Andrew Lloyd Webber scholarship to attend the Arts Educational School in London and starts a degree in musical theatre next month. She has just left Caludon Castle School in Coventry and had taken dance lessons at Pattinson College since she was four. She’s performed with West
End Kids and sung at the House of Lords.
Alex is continuing at BOA (Birmingham Ormiston Academy) and embarking on a BTech in musical theatre. He has appeared in dozens of shows with local groups including The Young Ones Musical Theatre and Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Youth Society. Venues include Netherton Arts Centre and Stourbridge Town Hall.
Alex says: “I’ve seen a lot of shows at Birmingham Hippodrome, but the idea of performing on its stage is quite surreal. It’s scary but very exciting. I feel very lucky to be working with these people.
“My favourite part of the show is the hilarious song Gee, Officer Krupke, while I love singing Tonight.”
Kamilla adds: “My favourite part is the balcony scene. I’ve grown up listening to the beautiful songs. The story is so sad, I cried in rehearsals the other day!”
Four Birmingham Hippodrome staff members are taking on the adult character roles. Benjamin Jones is swapping Visitor Services for the role of Glad Hand, marketing officer Chris Cooper is playing Lieutenant Schrank, Visitor Services administrator Nicola Entwistle is Officer Krupke and Hippodrome Young Poet Hannah Swingler will play Doc.
The professional team includes a 19-piece orchestra and 15 creatives working on music, choreography, sound, lighting, costumes and design.
Birmingham Hippodrome chief executive Fiona Allan says: “It is fitting that we mark our 120th birthday by funding a major new production, giving back to young people in our community.
“Our birthday celebrations are headlined with the strapline Then, Now, Always and this production will encompass this message. Then is the staging of this classic musical, Now is bringing a new production to our main stage, and Always is the hugely talented cast of young people who are the performers and audience members of our theatre’s future.”
West Side Story plays from August 29-31. To book tickets ring 0844 338 5000 or go to birminghamhippodrome.com.
soever. Then who left it there, in this case like a forgotten prop? Presumably the “resident director, Paul-Ryan Carberry, who is not top of the list in the production team. So where are we then all night – in the gym?
There are moments when small-size wheeled trucks are pushed on and off upon which these cheerful actors are crammed together for manicures and boy-chat (but off-stage I thought heard a little bird whistling “cheep-cheep”). However, production costs are not reflected in the high-octane colouful dancing, which gives this ensemble piece a superb lift.
The time-honoured bleachers have sadly been replaced by a smallish flight of steps, upon which Danny and his mates struggle to give full weight to the wellknown standards including the delightful Summer Nights the hand jive numbers and, of course, You’re The One That I Want which happily clumsy staging is never likely to diminish.
Grease is set in the late 1950s, when sexual mores were chronically different from today’s social concepts. Rizzo (Eloise Davies) gives a neat, energetic performance, but lacks the pathos needed to bring a lump in our throats when she reveals her pregnancy.
Peter Andre appears as Teen Angel in Part Two for approximately six minutes. Dressed in a pink suit and glitter wings and posing as a teenager, Mr Andre managed to strain my credulity to breaking point.
Richard Edmonds