Eliza’s dream of West End glory
MULTI-AWARD winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter Russell Kane is bringing his new show to Edge Hill University’s Arts Centre on Sunday, February 10.
Perhaps best known for BBC Three’s Stupid Man, Smart Phone, the host of three series of BBC Three‘s Live At The Electric, Russell’s new show, The Fast And The Curious, promises his signature high-energy and turbo can-do attitude, proving that the fast and the curious among us see more stuff, and get more done.
Winner of Best Show in 2010 at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Russell went on to make history as the first comedian to win both the Edinburgh Award and Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Barry Award in one year.
He will be on stage at The Arts Centre on Sunday, February 10 at 8pm.
Go to www.edgehill.ac.uk for more information and to book your tickets.
The Arts Centre has a jam-packed programme of events, visit the university website to see more.
AFIRST-YEAR musical theatre student at Edge Hill University has spoken of how her scholarship is helping inspire her towards achieving the goal of a career on the West End stage.
Eliza Hall, 19, from Speke, a former pupil of Parklands and Gateacre high schools, was the 2018 Liverpool Scholarships winner.
The award was instigated by the university to celebrate the awarding of the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in 2012, with up to £3,000 given to the city’s best-performing student who wins a place at Edge Hill University.
Eliza said: “It will help fund further classes, masterclasses and theatre experiences that will continue to inspire and educate me in performance.
“I’m so grateful for this scholarship as it’s shown me how hard work pays off. Thanks to this I now have more belief in what I can do.”
Although still early days in her degree, Eliza has her eye on the prize of a career in acting – via The Big Apple: “I’d love to study abroad for my masters in New York.
“The ultimate dream, and I’m sure it is for many others, is the West End and Broadway. If I can perform for a living, that’s my dream come true regardless of where – Broadway would just be the cherry on top!”
Eliza has already had a taste for performance there, singing at Ellen’s Stardust Diner: “I even sang my Edge Hill audition song Losing My Mind from the Stephen Sondheim Musical Follies!”
A lifelong love of performing has been the catalyst to where Eliza finds herself now. She said: “I’m pretty sure I was born doing jazz hands!”
Her mother performed in the duo Katch Uz Two with her uncle, her brother was in a band called Osiris and a cousin performed in school productions.
“I’ve been in the most musical family since the Von Trapps, and it’s been the best inspiration a young kid could’ve asked for.”
A guitarist since the age of 11, she started performing at Merseyside venues in her early teens including the Zanzibar, which eventually led to a regular section on Bay TV (now Liverpool TV) by the age of 16.
“It was a showcase of my four original songs: Afterlife, Voice Within, This Town and Melody.
“I’ve also played many Beatles celebrations at Penny Lane, which included John Lennon’s 75th birthday celebrations along with The Quarrymen.
“I studied music and drama at A-level and performed in every show at Gateacre. I caught the bug and felt at home on stage.
“I loved having the ability to make an audience laugh or cry by performing.”
She also completed her Grade 8 in both musical theatre and Lamda, and a Level 3 BTEC in music technology.
The experience and support of her teachers and fellow pupils has eventually led her to Edge Hill.
“I fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere at the university when I visited. It reminded me of every film about university I’d ever seen, it just felt right for me.”
It has proved the ideal location, a place she is able to enjoy her independence as well as stay close to her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2018.
“It was a big priority, so I could spend time looking after her. She underwent months of treatment but seeing her be so strong throughout the whole ordeal has been one of the most inspiring things to me.”
To find out more about eligibility and applying for the Liverpool Scholarship, visit the Edge Hill University website.