For London
MARK PIRIE
A local dance trio are hoping to go from East Kilbride to the West End with their move to London.
Ciaran Rodger, Georgia McRoberts and Jennifer Dodd are set to pursue their dream in the capital after leaving school.
The trio of 18-year-olds have grown up at the heart of the local drama scene, having first performed in Les Misérables almost a decade ago.
They stuck together as they moved to the Dance School of Scotland in Knightswood to study musical theatre in their third year of secondary school.
They rounded off their success together with a performance of Made in Dagenham at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall before their move to the capital.
Georgia is set to move to the Bird College of Dance, Music and Theatre Performance and mum Catriona McRoberts was bursting with pride.
“It was a total coincidence that the three of them were able to come together when they did.
“When they were nine or 10 they all started together in Les Mis in the Village Theatre.
“They have been able to grow up and do musical theatre together, and in Georgia’s case she has had a good grounding from an early age.
“A lot of her journey has been with the support of the community. She has been on stage in the Village a few times since she has been two or three and it was great that they were able to get a last night performing.”
Ciaran’s mum Ann says her son is yet to make a final decision on where he is going but hopes the switch to England will lead to the former Calderglen High pupil becoming a musical theatre actor in the West End.
She told the News: “He watched my husband Andrew and I in musical theatre shows. We met in the Apollo players in 1989 and married in 1992.
“His sister, Brianna, went to the Royal Conservatoire for opera singing and his brother Kyle is a musical theatre actor currently performing on the Marella Celebration so it is definitely in the family.
“Ciaran wanted to study from an early age and had all the leads in primary school as well as the AmDram shows.
“The three met again at the auditions for the dance school and were delighted to get in together.”
Jennifer will also go to Bird College when she arrives in the capital, and mum Frances hoped it would gear her up for a successful career in the industry.
She continued: “It’s a big step for all three of them to go to London now.
“It’s great for them though. It’s a phenomenal achievement for Jennifer. This is the kind of thing that opens doors for you and gives you lots of opportunities.
“There have been knockbacks along the way, and she has had to roll with it. She has come such a long way since Les Mis, and she will have the chance to go and get a fabulous degree.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to work with top people in the industry and build up better connections.”