{"id":3175,"date":"2015-12-17T13:00:50","date_gmt":"2015-12-17T13:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cramlingtonlv.co.uk\/?p=3175"},"modified":"2021-05-11T11:11:24","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T11:11:24","slug":"a-warming-west-end-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cramlingtonlv.co.uk\/?p=3175","title":{"rendered":"A warming west end winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"StudentsSongs from musical theatre favourites \u2013 including Les Miserables, Wicked and The Lion King \u2013 provided a pre-Christmas treat for the families of talented Cramlington Learning Village students.<\/p>\n

A West End Winter also featured folk songs played by brothers and sister Josh, Oliver and Holly Davenport, classical and popular music performed by a group of flautists and ensemble dance routines delivered with gusto by the school\u2019s Music and Theatre Productions team.<\/p>\n

Although there were no traditional Christmas carols or songs, there was plenty of tinsel on display and \u2013 to provide a feel of West Indian warmth on a cold December night \u2013 the audience was greeted by steel band music from the Cramlington Caribbean Crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so proud of everybody who took part,\u201d said the school\u2019s head of drama Zoe Dyer. \u201cThey\u2019ve been working hard and practising since September and it certainly paid off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SophieThe show finished with songs from The Lion King, led by 16-year-old Sophie Butler who \u2013 along with her friend Abigail Simpson \u2013 has appeared in every production since they joined the school. \u201cWe just love it. There was nothing else I would rather do,\u201d said Year 12 student Abigail. \u201cWhen the lights go down and everybody goes silent that\u2019s when it kicks in,\u201d said Sophie.<\/p>\n

Away from school Sophie is a member of stage and dancing schools and would like to pursue her performing talents to the highest possible level. \u201cIf I\u2019m not being too ambitious I would like to get to the West End.\u00a0 That would be amazing for me.\u00a0 It\u2019s something I\u2019ve always wanted to do. It\u2019s always been a big part of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

To help her achieve her goal, Sophie is thinking of applying for a place at one of the country\u2019s top stage schools \u2013 RADA, The Academy of Performing Arts and the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.\u00a0 \u201cEven if nothing ever came of it, I\u2019ve got to say that I tried,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Abigail plans to continue performing.\u00a0 \u201cI could never imagine not doing it,\u201d she said. \u201cAlthough they are two totally different things, the confidence I have from being on stage has definitely helped when I have to speak out in class.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophie said she used to suffer badly from nerves and would not sing in front of people. \u201cThe nerves never stop, but coming to the school and doing all these things has helped my so much.\u00a0 The nerves show that you care.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Christmas Sophie and Abigail and the rest of the Music and Theatre Productions team start preparing for their next show \u2013 Grease \u2013 which will be performed on 17, 18 and 19 March 2016.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

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