Frome is looking to make its mark on the professional, national theatre and dance scene.
Recently-recognized Frome youngsters, all of whom have found their feet in shows at the town’s home of community performance at the Merlin Theatre, have gained coveted places at such notable institutions as RADA, Arts Educational School, The Royal Ballet, Central School of Speech and Drama, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, the London School of Contemporary Dance, GSA and Mountview, putting the town’s future stars firmly on the map and in the eye of some of the most sought-after training schools in the country.
The latest production to showcase the burgeoning skills of Frome youth will be ‘In The Heights’ taking place at the Merlin Theatre in August.
Set in the a New York Latino neighbourhood and created by the same man who wrote ‘Hamilton’, this revolutionary musical features hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul and will give audiences the chance to see just some of the next-generation of ‘ones-to-watch’ as Frome shows the whole country what it is made of.
‘In The Heights’ cast and crew, all aged between 12 and 19, already boasts the following line-up of blossoming successful future professionals. Kathryn Wright (lead role of Nina Rosario) who has been awarded an unconditional offer to study BA (Hons) musical theatre at Winchester; Maisie Fogg (playing Vanessa) has been offered a one-year foundation course at the Emil Dale Performing Arts Academy which she starts this September; the show’s leading male role will be taken by Dillon Berry, already a highly successful pupil at the Swindon Dance Academy, who will also start a full-time course in performing and production arts at Bath Theatre Academy after the summer; Poppy Pinkster joins the cast, returning home fresh from her third appearance with the national Youth Music Theatre UK, widely respected as one of this country’s leading music theatre company’s for young people; Conny Hunter, the prima ballerina in this year’s Tri.Art production of ‘Alice’ has just completed an intensive triple-treat summer school at Laine Theatre Arts where, despite being a dancer through and through, Conny found out that up to five hours of singing a day meant she’s now happy to be all about the harmonies too!
It isn’t just on-stage where Frome’s talented young people are making their mark though. Stage management for ‘In The Heights’ will be smoothly looked after by ex-Selwood and ex-Frome College student Oli Wareham, who is now training in professional stage management at the much sought-after Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. And whilst she will be treading the boards for this show, local A-level student Emily Ibbitson has been invited to take the role of co-director later this year for a production of MacBeth as part of the National Shakespeare Festival.
Even past students cannot resist the urge to return to the Merlin as former Frome Tri.Art pupil Becky Hinde, now studying drama and theatre studies at Royal Holloway University, London, has chosen to fill her summer vacation as the acting coach for this captivating, contemporary story, set in the heat of the city.
As Merlin director Claudia Pepler comments,: “It will be no surprise to the many local professionals who live in Frome that the town has been building up ready to blossom for some time. We are so lucky when I think of the amazing, talented performers who have been paving the way – the Mark Bruce Dance Company, local talent Keely Beresford from BBC Radio 4’s ‘Home Front’, even our own staff have included actors from Knee High Theatre and Hull Truck and right now Dan Gaisford, very much one of our own, is in rehearsal with Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins at The Wyndham’s Theatre in London.
“There is a wealth of support, encouragement and, importantly, opportunities throughout the town. As I see, year on year, more students being snapped up by top training schools and universities, it is no surprise that the talk around the industry is that Frome’s young people are making their mark nationally. It’s wonderful to watch them grow. Look out West End and beyond!”
Produced by Tri.Art Theatre School, audiences have the opportunity to see some of Frome’s young talent from 23-25 August at the Merlin in “In The Heights”. Tickets for the shows: 01373 465949 or via merlintheatre.co.uk
The director and principal from Tri.Art will be on-hand to discuss opportunities if your children or young people are looking to train in the arts.
