Sunday 15 March 2015

Animal Farm Musical Director



Animal Farm is a joint production with Progress Youth Theatre and the principle has been carried through to the backstage roles. The musical director is Amelia, who has been a member of the Youth Theatre since she was seven. Her most recent roles were in Roses of Eyam and Murmuring Judges. Although she was only intending to be backstage for this production she has found herself taking on some on-stage roles as people have had to withdraw for various reasons. She is now playing Moses the Raven, a pigeon, Mrs Pilkington and potentially a goat. As she says if she has to be at rehearsals anyway she might as well go the whole hog (pun intended) and be in it is well.


Amelia (right) with assistant stage manager Josie, also a youth theatre member

The first question I asked Amelia was what does a musical director actually do. The rights to the play come with music for all the songs and Amelia arranged some of them to suit the range of voices in the cast. She has then been responsible for teaching the songs at rehearsals and leading vocal warm-ups. She is well qualified for the role as she is studying music A level, plays the violin, sings in the Taplow Youth choir and leads a choir at school. 

Animal Farm starts on Monday 23rd March and runs until Saturday.

Calling all male actors There is still an opportunity to take part in The Merry Wives of Windsor, this year's outdoor production in Caversham court gardens. The performance dates are 15th - 25th July. It should be great fun, please contact the director on merrywives@progresstheatre.co.uk 

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merrywives@progresstheatre.co.uk for more details