Fame

The show’s Director/Choreographer Danyl-James Turvey working with Andy Collis as Musical Director ensured that this production was rich in talent, imagination, energy and pace. 

Based on the 1980 phenomenal pop culture film of the same name, this show follows the lives of students at the New York City High School of Performing Arts as they manage the many highs and lows of teenage life.  The storyline explores some of the issues which confront young people today including; prejudice, sexuality, substance mis-use, poverty, body image, identity and the need to work hard to achieve the desired ‘Fame’. 

The role of the ambitious actress ‘Serena Katz’ was played to great comic effect by Cara Staniforth, who managed to entertain the audience and give a very emotional performance.   The role of Nick Piazza, the determined actor, was taken by Callen Wilson – he and Staniforth both gave excellent solos performances whiles also working well together.   Adam Wigglesworth was hilarious in the role Joe Vegas - the wisecracking comedian and bad boy.  The fame-obsessed Carmen Diaz was very well played by Hannah Clapham - I particularly enjoyed her rendition of the title song.  Clapham took her character from being an over confident aspiring performer to the rock bottom of failure and untimely death with great passion.   

Grace Castle was very entertaining in the role of Mabel Washington and Maya Holmes played the role of impoverished dancer Iris Kelly beautifully.  Aaron Wild played bad boy dancer Tyrone Jackson with great energy while engaging the audience in the story line of his hidden dyslexia.  There were dramatic exchanges between him and Sam Shirtliffe, playing Head of PA, Miss Sherman – which both actors carried off well. The roles of the teachers were taken by Sam Bates (Mr Sheinkopf), James Hamstead (Mr Myers) and Marcie Torr (Miss Bell) all of whom gave great character performances.  Shirtliffe and Torr presented a very powerful dramatic duet about the conflicting demands faced by the students in a school of performing arts who are still required to attain high academic grades.  Marcus Kamsika was engaging in the role of quiet violinist Schlomo Metzenbaum who together with Zoe Staniforth (drummer Grace Lamb), Sam Simmons  (Goodman King) and Russell Taylor (Sebastian Wheeler) all gave talented and enthusiastic performances. 

Every member of the cast on stage demonstrated a real commitment to ensuring that the production was entertaining and fast paced – maintaining their characters (and accents!) throughout.  They filled the stage with vibrant dance numbers which had been cleverly choreographed to demonstrate some impressive talent and gave strong vocal performances.

The set was great for this production and costumes, light and sound were excellent.  I was very impressed with the introduction of the New York yellow taxi for the final number. YPPA is made up of young people aged from 10-25 and it is clear from the production that there is a huge amount of work undertaken to support these young people to be the best they can be on stage and to enjoy the process of doing so.  Everyone involved gave their all to this fabulous production.  Congratulations to all the Production Team, the Cast and Crew on this dynamic show.

The show’s Director/Choreographer Danyl-James Turvey working with Andy Collis as Musical Director ensured that this production was rich in talent, imagination, energy and pace. 

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