BILLY YOUTH THEATRE - REGIONAL SHOWCASE REVIEWS
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 11:55 pm
Just got back from attending the first BYT regional showcase. It was at the Lowry theatre, Salford and Yorksdell managed to obtain two superb seats for us both - right in the middle of the front row!!
Well, what can I say...WOW! It was EXCELLENT! It was an evening full of such magical moments like those that I had when I discovered BETM for the very first time. It was fresh, it was raw, it had me in stitches one moment and fighting back the tears at others, it contained many spine-tingling moments - and left me wishing that this wasn't a one off, but that I could be given the opportunity of seeing it all over again!
Apparently there are 115 registered BYT groups across the country and these regional showcases are highlighting some of the best in each area. The groups represented at ours were:
Brewery Youth Theatre
Queen Elizabeth School
Canon Slade School
Clifton Academy
Cody's Productions
Calday Grange Grammar School
Sandbach School Theatre
The evening was introduced by the BYT Director and then Damian Jackson (BETM Resident Choreographer for Swan Lake & Electricity). The structure of the evening was a performance of the musical from start to finish, cutting out much dialogue between musical numbers, plus Swan Lake and the Finale, so the whole evening including interval was about 2 hrs 20 mins. Each Billy and group performed at least a couple of scenes, 'passing on the baton' smoothly and seamlessly to the next Billy and group so that it flowed perfectly. Much of the acting and delivery was as we would see and expect at the VPT, but it was nice to see some fresh interpretations of dances, characters and scenes.
The show opened with 4 or 5 boys with brass instruments and full marching band uniform entering the stage and playing live. It was a really nice touch. By the end of the opening number - 'Stars Look Down' all the 'ensembles' from each group were on stage (some entering through the audience) and the volume was breathtaking.
The set was simple, but effective, with many scenes enhanced by video projections on a large screen above a raised platform to the rear.
Some highlights...
Grandma's Song - performed by members of Canon Slade School.
Everything about this number was brilliant - incl. Grandma's singing, Billy's facial expressions and the 10+ group of older boys choreography.
Solidarity - performed by both members of Canon Slade school and Clifton Academy. Great to hear that much of the language had been toned down a bit. This did not in the slightest bit effect the emotion of the piece.
Express Yourself - performed by Calday Grange Grammar school. Lots of laughs....especially when 10 older boys came on stage wearing dresses!! The lad playing Billy had a cheeky, fun-loving and confident look about him which worked.
Born to Boogie - The lad playing Mr Braithwaite (Cody's Productions I think) absolutely stole this scene, especially when he ripped his shirt and pants off to reveal a vest and posing pouch...right in front of all the ballet girls who then ran off screaming!! Very funny!
Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher (including Maggie face masks!) performed by Calday Grange Grammar. Thankfully we weren't picked on by George (as Santa) at the beginning! It was the woman two seats down from us!
Deep Into The Ground - Another amazing moment. The lad (from Calday Grange) who sang this had by far the most powerful voice of the evening, and it was reminiscent of a James Gaddas and Joe Caffrey style - tears streaming down his face as he captured perfectly the emotion of this piece.
....but the overall highlight....
Electricity - The Billy from Canon Slade school was awesome! No joke - this kid had as good a voice (if not better) than Liam Mower and Olly Taylor!! Not only that, his acting and facial expression was the best I've EVER seen done in this number! Just brilliant! The dancing - a hip-hop/street style interpretation was very good too (just needed a tiny bit more energy). If this group and this kid doesn't get to the West End gala then there is something seriously wrong with the judging - I could honestly see this boy in the role of Billy at the VPT regularly - yes, he was THAT talented!! Tom Glynn-Whitehead was his name I think.
Once We Were Kings - Another large group ensemble number, the swell of sound was superb.
The Letter Scenes - Dead Mum from Cody's Productions had a lovely voice.
The North-eastern acccents were excellent throughout, only once momentarily did I hear a scouse Mrs Wilkinson, but all in all the ballet teachers were very good too!
I would really like to see CANON SLADE SCHOOL and CALDAY GRANGE GRAMMAR at the VPT Gala in July. They are my predictions - as for me personally - as a neutral audience member, they stood out the most. I hope I'm right!!
Well done to all the young people, teachers and crew members involved! You should all be extremely proud of yourselves. It was a great night out at the theatre and goes to show the North-West (in my opinion) has some of, if not the best talent in Britain!!
Well, what can I say...WOW! It was EXCELLENT! It was an evening full of such magical moments like those that I had when I discovered BETM for the very first time. It was fresh, it was raw, it had me in stitches one moment and fighting back the tears at others, it contained many spine-tingling moments - and left me wishing that this wasn't a one off, but that I could be given the opportunity of seeing it all over again!
Apparently there are 115 registered BYT groups across the country and these regional showcases are highlighting some of the best in each area. The groups represented at ours were:
Brewery Youth Theatre
Queen Elizabeth School
Canon Slade School
Clifton Academy
Cody's Productions
Calday Grange Grammar School
Sandbach School Theatre
The evening was introduced by the BYT Director and then Damian Jackson (BETM Resident Choreographer for Swan Lake & Electricity). The structure of the evening was a performance of the musical from start to finish, cutting out much dialogue between musical numbers, plus Swan Lake and the Finale, so the whole evening including interval was about 2 hrs 20 mins. Each Billy and group performed at least a couple of scenes, 'passing on the baton' smoothly and seamlessly to the next Billy and group so that it flowed perfectly. Much of the acting and delivery was as we would see and expect at the VPT, but it was nice to see some fresh interpretations of dances, characters and scenes.
The show opened with 4 or 5 boys with brass instruments and full marching band uniform entering the stage and playing live. It was a really nice touch. By the end of the opening number - 'Stars Look Down' all the 'ensembles' from each group were on stage (some entering through the audience) and the volume was breathtaking.
The set was simple, but effective, with many scenes enhanced by video projections on a large screen above a raised platform to the rear.
Some highlights...
Grandma's Song - performed by members of Canon Slade School.
Everything about this number was brilliant - incl. Grandma's singing, Billy's facial expressions and the 10+ group of older boys choreography.
Solidarity - performed by both members of Canon Slade school and Clifton Academy. Great to hear that much of the language had been toned down a bit. This did not in the slightest bit effect the emotion of the piece.
Express Yourself - performed by Calday Grange Grammar school. Lots of laughs....especially when 10 older boys came on stage wearing dresses!! The lad playing Billy had a cheeky, fun-loving and confident look about him which worked.
Born to Boogie - The lad playing Mr Braithwaite (Cody's Productions I think) absolutely stole this scene, especially when he ripped his shirt and pants off to reveal a vest and posing pouch...right in front of all the ballet girls who then ran off screaming!! Very funny!
Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher (including Maggie face masks!) performed by Calday Grange Grammar. Thankfully we weren't picked on by George (as Santa) at the beginning! It was the woman two seats down from us!
Deep Into The Ground - Another amazing moment. The lad (from Calday Grange) who sang this had by far the most powerful voice of the evening, and it was reminiscent of a James Gaddas and Joe Caffrey style - tears streaming down his face as he captured perfectly the emotion of this piece.
....but the overall highlight....
Electricity - The Billy from Canon Slade school was awesome! No joke - this kid had as good a voice (if not better) than Liam Mower and Olly Taylor!! Not only that, his acting and facial expression was the best I've EVER seen done in this number! Just brilliant! The dancing - a hip-hop/street style interpretation was very good too (just needed a tiny bit more energy). If this group and this kid doesn't get to the West End gala then there is something seriously wrong with the judging - I could honestly see this boy in the role of Billy at the VPT regularly - yes, he was THAT talented!! Tom Glynn-Whitehead was his name I think.
Once We Were Kings - Another large group ensemble number, the swell of sound was superb.
The Letter Scenes - Dead Mum from Cody's Productions had a lovely voice.
The North-eastern acccents were excellent throughout, only once momentarily did I hear a scouse Mrs Wilkinson, but all in all the ballet teachers were very good too!
I would really like to see CANON SLADE SCHOOL and CALDAY GRANGE GRAMMAR at the VPT Gala in July. They are my predictions - as for me personally - as a neutral audience member, they stood out the most. I hope I'm right!!
Well done to all the young people, teachers and crew members involved! You should all be extremely proud of yourselves. It was a great night out at the theatre and goes to show the North-West (in my opinion) has some of, if not the best talent in Britain!!