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Small steps start a career on the stage
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| Top tips - little Sam Anderson gets some panto advice from Joe Pasquale |
ANYONE wanting to follow in the footsteps of Joe Pasquale and carve out a career on stage will have a good start at the new Palace Theatre youth groups.
Jenny Byne, the new community education manager for Southend theatres, is launching three new theatre groups in January for children aged seven to 19 to develop their acting skills.
"The department is quite new and one of the things we wanted to do was to make the Palace a community venue," Jenny explains. "And we especially wanted to get more young people into the theatre."
Tiny Palace was launched in September for four to six year olds and such was its success, Jenny set about creating more.
"It was a slow burner, but now we're totally full and have people on a list waiting to join," she says.
"They put on a production of Cinderella a few weeks ago, to mirror the professional show at the Cliffs and it went brilliantly. I knew it was going to be a challenge as they're all so young, but they really rose to the occasion."
Four-year-old Sam Anderson played the part of Buttons in his stage debut and managed to get some tips from Joe Pasquale, who is playing Buttons at the Cliffs Pavilion until mid-January.
On Monday, January 7, Little Palace will be launched for seven to 11 year olds alongside Young Palace which is for 12 to 15 year olds.
A week later the Palace Youth Group for 16 to 19 year olds will be put into action - and places are already limited.
"Places are full but we have a waiting list set up as people are always coming and going," says Jenny who, as an ex-theatre director and teacher, runs the groups herself in the evenings.
"It's such a great way for children to develop their confidence and anyone who joins the group gets reduced prices to the Palace productions.
"It should be a really exciting year ahead."
For more information call Jenny on 01702 434318.
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