Show Off

Show Off – a showcase performed/produced by the Dream Academy of Performing Arts, based at and performed at the Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens on Tuesday, 16th April, 2024

This was my first visit to a ‘showcase’ presented by The Dream Academy of Performing Arts here at the Theatre Royal in St Helens.  I must admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but having now been to seen it, I can tell you that everything was focused on these young people who were allowed to show off their talents, gain experience in front of a ‘live’ audience, sing, act, dance… but most importantly they were working with like-minded young people whilst having the time of their young lives and this was more than obvious from the first group number which opened the show… ‘Barbie Medley’… to the finale ‘Mama Mia’ which closed the show… I’ve said this on many occasions before and don’t mind repeating myself… “oh how I wish I was sixty years younger” ...  so jealous!

Where to start…. let’s start by naming the ‘fifty-six’ young cast members… Alice Achilles, Bethany Addison, Noah Allender, Laura Atherton, Niamh Beesley, Orla Benyon, Megan Bennett, Gabrielle Beckwith, Phoebe Bradley, Keira Bowles, Georgia Burdett, Finley Coulshed, Ewan Donoghue, Maisie Evans-Smith, Eloise Forester, Keira Forshaw, Isobel Ford, Emmett Drinkwater, Daisy Devlin, Lesley Griffiths, Ellen Goodchild, Violet Howarth, Grace Halliwell, Lucy Hughes, Mia Hurst, Amy Johnson, Zachary Kewley, Iris Lee, Taylor Leadbetter, Flossy Mulligan, Jensen Nolan, Jason Mercer,  Poppy Mortimore, Olivia Mullins, Charlotte Pennington, Bella Pennington,  Isobel Pinder, Connie Reid, Nicole Robinson, Jacob Sayer, Jessica Shearman, Annabelle Stott, Reuben Singh, Priya Singh, Drew Taylor,  Ava Wall, Iris Wall, Graci Wadworth, Max Whalley, Pippa Wright, Sage Birchall, Demi Moore, Sakura, Hallex, Zara and Ray.

PRODUCTION LIST…  the running order of ‘Show Off 2024’:

- ‘Barbie Medley’ - Full Ensemble

- ‘Don't Rain on My Parade’ - Charlotte Pennington

- ‘The Panto Goes Wrong’ – Masie Evans-Smith, Max Whalley, Isobel Ford, Jensen Nolan, Kiera Bowles,
   Phoebe Bradley, Sakura

- ‘Journey to the Past’ - Ava Wall

- ‘Hamlet Monologue’ - Keira Forshaw

- ‘She Used to Be Mine’ - Keira Bowles

- ‘Spotlight’ - Mia Hurst

- ‘The Tempest’ – Jensen Nolan, Sakura, Jason Mercer

- ‘Comedy Sketch’ – Ruben Singh, Jason Mercer, Jacob Sayer, Amy Johnson, Demi Moore, Jess Shearman,
   Beth Addison, Mia Hurst

- ‘Calon Lan’ - Georgia Burdett

- ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ – Sage Birchall & Olivia Mullins

- ‘Dancing Fool’ - Niamh Beesley

- ‘Taylor Swift Medley’ – Pippa Wright, Priya Singh, Halle, Gabrielle Beckwith, Zara, Isobel Ford, Lucy Hughes

- ‘Hamlet Monologue’ - Libby Wright

- ‘Big Blonde and Beautiful’ - Alice Achilles

- ‘I'm Still Standing’ - Finlay Coulshed

- ‘Lyrical 'Hero' Dance’ – Graci Wadworth, Ava Wall, Iris Wall, Daisy Devlin

- ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ – Priya Singh, Masie Evans-Smith, Jason Mercer, Phoebe Bradley, Sakura,
   Olivia Mullins

- ‘Fabulous’ - Nicole Robinson

- ‘Phobia Sketch’ – Bethany Addison, Jess Shearman, Connie Reid, Libby Wright, Ewan Donoghue

- ‘My Grand Plan’ - Iris Wall

- ‘Part of That World’ - Gracie Wadworth, Daisy Devlin, Demi Moore.

- ‘Macbeth’ (Three Witches scene) – Lucy Hughes, Hallex, …

- ‘Two Soups’ – Max Whalley, Charlotte Pennington, Nicole Robinson

- ‘Half the World Away Parody’ - Jacob Sayer

- ‘The Tempest’ - Max Whalley

- ‘Green Day Medley’ – Emmett Drinkwater, Libby Wright, Ray

- ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ - Ewan Donoghue & Bethany Addison

- ‘Pulled’ - Jess Forrester

- ‘Roxie’ - Sage Birchall

- ‘Speechless’ - Amy Hurst

- ‘Mamma Mia’ – Company

Congrats one and all for what you achieved that night!   As you know, I’m never one to sit on the fence … so I’d like to identify MY favourite pieces from the night and a ‘showstopper’, which was a close call between two, although I must make reference to the many small sketches played out that night, many of which were packed with humour and hilarity creating a lot of great characters … but when it came to ‘show stopper’ there were two real contenders … Keira Bowles and her rendition of ‘She used to be Mine’ from ‘The Waitress’ and ‘Part of My World’ from ‘The Little Mermaid’ sung by Gracie Wadworth, Daisy Devlin, Demi Moore.  This wasn’t an easy decision, but I eventually plumped for ‘Part of My World’.... which was a super rendition… but, not to detract from Gracie or Daisy’s involvement, which was amazing… but my decision turned with the vocals provided by Demi Moore.  When Demi stepped forward to sing her part, which was more or less the second half of the song, I thought she looked extremely nervous, but when she began to sing… OMG ... what an amazing voice... “stole the show” for me … be very proud Demi!  

Production Team…  Things like this just don’t happen, it takes a great deal of effort and time to pull any type of concert/showcase together… Harry Moore / Chantelle Nolan, Sophie Thow, Grace Faulkner and Lewis Canning. should be congratulated on their effort and on the outcome of this production… if the applause that greeted all the performances was anything to go by …the show was enjoyed by everyone present! 

If I may be so bold as to offer a ‘wee bit’ of ‘constructive advice’ - for everyone to keep in the forefront of their thoughts when on stage and to work on continuously...

‘Spoken Word’ - Never forget that the those sat on the back row of any theatre, hall or centre... need to hear and understand everything you say... so
                        ‘projection’, ‘diction’ is always vital... keep that volume up and project!

‘Spoken Word’ - Isn’t it wonderful when you know your lines – but just knowing them isn’t enough! Articulation is a vital skill for actors to master; the use of
                        ‘light and shade’, the introduction of ‘emotion’, ‘emphasising important words or phrases’ ... helps bring any script to life!          

‘Accents’    - Accents are another vital element in theatre. If using an accent... ensure it is used throughout your performance. If you sing... try and put the
                  accent into the lyrics...it isn’t easy but if you can achieve it – it will enhance your performance!

‘Eye Contact’    - Vital!  They say... ‘The eyes are the window to the soul’ – this statement is so ‘true’. When you look-into someone’s eyes you can usually
                         tell what that person is thinking or how they are feeling... so if you hide them or if you can’t see them (hidden under a hat), or they are
                         closed - you lose so much!  So always remember.... the ‘eyes have it’!  

Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I... we really did enjoy out time with you guys.... hope to see you all again soon.

‘Stay Safe, Keep well’
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe,
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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