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WEST END STARS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS Of GWENT YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE |
Top-line performers from West End shows and TV will join members of Gwent Young People’s Theatre to stage a special benefit to celebrate 50 years of theatre for young people in Gwent.The show – 50 Years On! – is at the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, on Sunday 25 June. In the line-up is Katy Secombe, daughter of the late, great Sir Harry Secombe, actor-singer Tom Pearce who is on the newly released soundtrack of The Da Vinci Code, jazz singer/songwriter Nia Lynn and her group The Bannau Trio and Matthew Woodyatt currently at the Criterion in London in the acclaimed Mack and Mabel. Both Nia and Matthew started their training with Gwent Young People’s Theatre (GYPT) and the whole cast will be joined by current members together with Cwmbran’s Congress Youth Theatre. The show is produced by theatre director Ken Caswell of Les Miserables fame who is himself an ex-member of GYPT. Katy Secombe is Sir Harry’s youngest daughter, and her West End credits include Mama Mia and Les Miserables. She worked alongside her father at the Chichester Festival and played in a radio adaptation of his novel Twice Brightly. Her TV work includes roles in Casualty and London’s Burning. Tom Pearce is in much demand for film soundtracks and as well as The Da Vinci Code, his recordings include Shrek I & II, Tombraider, Lion King 3 and Moulin Rouge. Tom has appeared in many musicals in the UK and overseas (Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific and Carousel). He has also been a backing singer for Robbie Williams and appeared with him on TV show including Later with Jools Holland and the MTV Music Awards. Jazz singer Nia Lynn followed her days at GYPT with intensive jazz training which has led to her own jazz quintet and the recording of her first EP. In London she has played Ronnie Scotts, 606 Jazz Club and The Round House and has appeared in jazz festivals in Cyprus and the UK – including Pontypool. Nantyglo-born Matthew Woodyatt has launched a successful career since he graduated from theatre school three years ago. He is currently in London’s West End playing Fatty Arbuckle in John Doyle’s acclaimed production of Mack and Mabel – a role he took on national tour earlier this year. He has also many other credits to his name including a UK tour of Radio Days and TV Times. Matthew was Resident Composer and Musical Director for GYPT between 2001-2004 with productions of The Canterbury Tales, The Silver Sword, Alice’s Adventures Underground and Tales from Ovid. The show will feature an excerpt of the Youth Theatre’s summer production The Epic of Gilgamesh and will also feature members of the Cwmbran Congress Youth Theatre in an excerpt from their recent successful production of The Pirates of Penzance. Musical direction is by Jeanette Massocchi - a vocal coach for some of the country's finest singers – and Wayne Beecham, musical director for the Congress Youth Theatre. All proceeds from the concert will be used to support the costs of staging this year’s productions to mark the 50th birthday of GYPT. Ken Caswell says: “This is definitely a celebratory evening with the involvement of both youthful and more experienced talent. It promises to be a really good entertainment.” Tickets are £12 and £10 from the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, Tel 01873 850805. |
| Gwent Theatre web site: |
| e-mail: gwenttie@uwclub.net |
Monday, June 19, 2006 |
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