Chichester students bring their 9 to 5 tour to conclusion
Theatre
Jasmine Townley has been stepping into the Dolly Parton shoes as Doralee as one of the University of Chichester’s “triple threat” students on the road with their new production of
Dolly’s 9 To 5 The Musical.
After opening in Bognor Regis, they bring their tour to a conclusion on Sunday, March 31 at 7.30pm at the Theatre Royal Winchester.
9 To 5 The Musical tells the story of Doralee, Violet and Judy – three workmates pushed to boiling point by their sexist and egotistical boss.
Concocting a plan to kidnap and turn the tables on their despicable supervisor, will the girls manage to reform their office – or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit?
It’s a show Jasmine is loving – a great way to finish the course. The students are finalists and will soon be out there for real.
“I have loved the course. When I first came here, everyone was so friendly, and the training here is second to none.
“I feel that I have progressed so much.
“We do singing classes and I have learnt better technique with my voice and how to pronounce better. My acting ability has come on, how to memorise the script and so on, and also I have been able to improve my dancing.
“I am feeling ready!” Playing Doralee will be a significant test – and a great preparation for the challenges she will face in her career ahead.
“I am one of the female leads, and she is great.
“She comes across as being quite bubbly and chatty, but she gets stereotyped as being the blonde who has got big boobs and doesn’t know anything about life…
“But actually she is very strong and very independent. She is a great role model to have. I look up to her and I love the songs. The songs are just incredible, and I love playing her.
“This is our final show and it is being assessed, but I think it is fair. I think everyone gets an equal amount of time on the stage. If you are a lead, perhaps you get a few more songs and more solo lines, but I think what makes the show amazing is the way that everyone works together.”
Lecturer Paul Ackerley said: “The University of Chichester has been licensed to tour its own imagining of the riotous, feminist comedy for a short three-county south-east tour.
“University of Chichester’s musical theatre-triple threat course is now regarded in academic circles as one of the top-flight courses in the country, alongside the London conservatoires and has been awarded a coveted Spotlight place, the database to which the world’s leading casting directors turn for their musical theatre performers.
“It’s an appropriate accolade in the course’s tenth anniversary year.”