Talent

make it happen

WWW.TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK JULY 2014 issue #1

only

Layton Williams

£2.99

the real billy elliot

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a  note  from  Â

the  editor E ver felt that other teen magazines don’t apply to your hectic life of schoolwork and rehearsals? Fed up of trying to explain to your friends why Carrie Fletcher beats Taylor Swift every time? Don’t know why no one else gets

your need to sing, dance and act? The Talent magazine team understands. 7KLV LV WKH YHU\ ˉUVW HGLWLRQ of the UK’s best magazine for young performers, scouring the country for the best interviews, the hottest gossip, and the most exclusive industry news. As well as packing in all the latest castings and top training tips, our exclusive interviews with cover star Layton Williams, West End veteran Arianna Bertola and star of Disney’s summer EORFNEXVWHU 0DOHˉFHQW ,VREHOOH Molloy, are here to let you know

how they made it big before even sitting their GCSEs. Sound like a dream come true? +HDG WR SDJH WR ˉQG RXW KRZ you can have Talent delivered to your iPad every month with all new interactive content. We’ve loved every moment of creating this magazine, but if you think there’s something that we could be doing better, than get in touch and let us know!

Katie D

******************** team

TALENT

production  editor  @talent.katie

brand  manager  @talent.pippa

pippa Â

lanty  Pictures  editor  @talent.lanty

Katie used to act and dance, but her performing career EHFDPH PRUH GLIˉFXOW after she hit 6ft, Now, she organises magazines so direcors don’t ask her to be an onstage tree.

Pippa is a singersongwriter, writing for herself and other singers when she’s not dancing in her room. She also has a terrible fear of ducks, but she doesn’t want you to know that.

Lanty loved singing so much that she went to singing classes at school even after being in class 8 hours a day. She doesn’t go on stage any more, but lurks back stage whenever she can.

katie Â

rochelle Â

Katie Davies, Production Editor @talent.katie

caroline Â

liyana  Head  of  Design @talent.liyana Design queen Liyana loves bright colours, doodling, and llamas. She never thought that she was cool enough to be an actress, but notso-secretly wants to be a rockstar.

emily Â

chief  sub-­editor  @talent.rochelle

digital  editor @talent.caroline

Head  of  CONTENT @talent.emily

Rochelle’s ballet dancing dreams were crushed when she realised her Mum couldn’t stay and be a ballerina with her. Since then she refocused all her love for ballet into buying pink, glittery accessories.

Caroline used to act as part of her local theatre group. But these days, she gets her kicks by sitting in the Talent RIˉFH DQG JRRJOLQJ SLFWXUHV RI animals eating pizza.

Emily loves the buzz of performing, whether she’s on stage herself or watching Dance Moms in her pyjamas. More friends on the Talent Facebook page always makes her happy. TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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TALENT

contents Interviews

9 A Day in the Life of Imogen Gurney 14 exclusive with Adrianna Bertola 32 Wigs and Make Up: the RSC reveals all 64 How I got here: Choreographer Denise Ranger

22

all access with layton williams

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

14 being

mini maleficent Training Tips 19 Promote yourself online 20 Audition Central 28 How to find an agent

Always Carrie sings out pretty in for a Les Mis polka promotional

Features West End in Numbers 37 MATILDA pay scandal 40 Regional Theatres 42 Too poor to be famous? 44

Talent Regulars Starspotted 4 Style Steal 10 Poster 34 Competition: Win an iPad 47 Your problems: sorted 48 Cringe 51 Monologues of the Month 52

Carrie crush is... This month’s talent

fletcher 5 reasons why she's fabulous...

1. She’s Eponine in Les Mis 2. Her brother is Tom Fletcher from McBusted talented family!

3. She’s the only British Actress to play both Young Eponine and Older Eponine. 4. She always has time for her fans, the Hopefuls. 5. Her youtube channel, ItsWayPastMyBedtime is amazing!

pe Fletcher name: Carrie Ho old age: 21 years ondon

location: l

The Hopefuls <3 Carrie’s got a huge fanbase, who call themselves ‘The Hopefuls’. They’re always asking Carrie for advice and sharing her work.

Twitter @CarrieHFletcher 306,000 followers

Castings 60

Youtube ItsWayPastMyBedtime

56,000 likes

497,000 subscribers

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

words: Pippa Moyle

Have your say 59

Facebook Carrie Hope Fletcher

3

WEDDING BELLS?!

Les Mis film star Eddie Redmayne has popped the question to his long term girlfriend Hannah Bagshawe while on a romantic holiday. What will Cosette say?

We thou ght any we c more ouldn , ’t lov and open e Idi then ing o n w f e the saw a Menz All h 2 her el 014 ail t at Ton he Q t h y e ueen of B Award s . road way !

utiful true : even bea ys! The rumours are has bad hair da e nc re w a L r er fe Jenni her stylish as ev p ee k e ni ea l b Luckily a coo 4

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Benedict

reveals all

! who’s next? Tell who you want to us see STAR*SPOTTED ON OU R TWITTER at TalentMa gazine

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch took to the stage at the Hay Book Festival to read some juicy love letters. Sadly, they weren’t letters that he had written to the Talent team...

Oh Carrie! ou

Don’t worry, y ous. still look gorge

LONDON BABY!

Songstress Bridgit Medler posted this on Instagram on her way for som e weekend fun

words: Katie Davies

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Confidence is the key !

iew v r e t in

TOR

DIREC G N I T S A AWES, C jOANNE h SHOWS! M A E R D OF YOUR THE LEADING children's musical theatre casting director, Joanne Hawes, talks to TalEnt's Lanty about HER top tips for auditons.

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S

ince entering the industry 17 years ago, Jo has worked on over 75 productions for leading theatrical producers, mostly musicals in the West End and on tour. She has auditioned thousands of children, but feels that a lot of them did not give their best because no one ever taught them how to audition. If you want to be seen for a show in the West End, Jo VXJJHVWV \RX WR GR \RXU UHVHDUFK ˉUVW “Keep up to date with theatre news so you know

INDUSTRY

to audition success

words: Lanty Zhang photograph: Elizabeth Keston

what is going on and apply directly or attend open auditions. You can sign up with an agent to help you make a start. It is also useful to look at websites like notapushymum.com, which is full of useful information. Or you could take a look at my website johawes.com. It contains the latest updates of casting information and tips for audition.s” It is easy to get nervous in the middle of castings. In order to combat nerves, Jo advises you to think about the audition as a lesson rather than an ordeal and not to think about it too far ahead. “The directors that take the auditions are very talented themselves and have a lot to teach. You should try the technique whereby you ‘pretend to be FRQˉGHQWȠ 3HUKDSV \RX ZLOO ˉQG WKDW \RX DUH FRQˉGHQW after a few minutes. You can also attend my masterclass LQ WKH DUW RI DXGLWLRQLQJ ZKLFK LV VSHFLˉFDOO\ GHVLJQHG to teach you how to combat nerves.” Jo has seen many children who have been unsuccessful in the audition process because they have not been able to show the panel what they can do. The panel normally made up of directors and choreographers from the shows only have a short time to make their decision. The top casting director started her masterclasses in October 2010 and now travels all over the country. +HU FODVVHV DUH VSHFLˉFDOO\ GHVLJQHG IRU FKLOGUHQ aged 7 and over. They will empower you and help you understand what creative teams are looking for. The masterclasses also cover topics such as how to behave and how to avoid nerves in auditions. After years of experience, Jo has some advice for dealing with rejection:

“You should try the technique whereby you ‘pretend to be confident’. Perhaps you will find that you are confident after a few minutes.” “Unfortunately, this business is full of rejection and it is often more of a problem for the parent than the child. Both of you must try to remember that you will attend many auditions but are only offered a few parts. It is the nature of our business. The worst thing that can happen is that you come out of the audition without achieving a recall not having learnt something.” In her book ‘Children in Theatre’, Jo talks about M.F.H (Mothers from Hell) and also about how she expects parents in the industry to behave. “I think parents should be supportive and encouraging, full of praise and sympathetic to the feelings of the child after an unsuccessful audition. Parents who ask loads of inappropriate questions, turn up late for auditions and demand that their children be seen or proclaim their child is so much better than any other child are not doing their children any favours.” 7KH ˉQDO WLS IRU WKRVH RI \RX ZKR ZDQW WR perform in the West End but are anxious about trying is, “Try to put aside your worries, have a go and try to enjoy it. The audition itself is always a great lesson to learn. Joanne’s current productions include Les Miserables, Shrek, Oliver!, The Lion King and South 3DFLˉF

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Have you dreamed of being on the West End stage?

We can get you there!!

We currently have spaces available in the following MyUK Hubs;

rpool London | Cardiff | Newport | Bristol | Neath | Live ool Manchester 1 | Manchester 2 | Birmingham | Blackp

Who are MyUK?

What does MyUK offer?

Musical Youth UK (MyUK) was set to give young people (aged between 10 and 19) a wonderful ongoing theatrical experience. Not only will they have an opportunity to perform locally but also in a large-scale performance in London’s West End.

MyUK is a great, fun way to achieve top-end results through our teaching, guiding and inspiring young people to reach their goals. Weekly rehearsals are mainly to work on the two main annual performances. Depending on the style of production, all disciplines will be covered; acting, singing and movement.

MyUK Mission Statement We strive to encourage young people to build confidence, social skills and broaden their boundaries so they can move, progress, not only in performance but also in everyday life. We seek to give young people a worth, a focus and a belief in themselves.

Each year, all MyUK Performance Hubs will merge to perform one Gala Performance in a London West End theatre. This will be the opportunity that most young people never get to experience and is a momentous event. MyUK members will also be able to meet some top theatre performers along the way with various master classes and vocal workshops. These are run with the support of our West end and professional patrons.

Joining MyUK?

Only £10 a week

For more information, why not get in touch or visit one of the links below to see some of our MyUK members in action; www.facebook.com/MusicalYouthUkMyuk www. youtube.com/user/musicalyouthuk www. twitter.com/MusicalYouthUK

phone | 01633 123456 email | info@musicalyouthuk.org

www.musicalyouthuk.org 8

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y e n r u G  n e g o Im day  in  the  life  of

iot A.K.A. Julie Hope - Ballet girl in Billy Ell

ol to start 8:00am ready for scho

exclu sive

I started Redroofs Theatre school at 12-years-old. I get given missed work so I can catch up on lessons I have missed in my own time. By law I have to have at least 15 hours of schooling at week.

Maths, then English followed by History revision at break time. I have lots of school work to do before I travel to London so I have to work in my break time. My mum can’t understand why I can’t remember Maths as easily as my lines!

Feet strengthening in Pointe class. I love dancing, it’s one of my favourite classes at school. I like it a lot more than maths, and for me it’s just as important. That’s what I love about Redroofs. I can l n from earn and train at the Catching the traiPa ddington to d ea same time. Maidenh :KHQ VFKRRO ˉQLVKHV , JR VWUDLJKW WR /RQGRQ IRU WKH show. It is tiring going backwards and forwards all the time, but I’m used to it now. I normally fall asleep on the train on the way home though.

words: Rochelle Barrand

Taking bows with Billy

I do two or three shows a week and in a year I will do 72 shows in total. I also cover for sickness. There was six weeks of rehearsals before the show began.

I really love performing and I wish I could do it every day, all day. It is very hard work but I don’t want to do anything else!

to them when I was on I used to really enjoy school plays and always learnt everyone’s words. I would mouth along UVW DXGLWLRQ IRU WKH W IRU P\ ˉ DQG ZHQ JHQF\ DW Q DFWLQJ D , MRLQHG D OO\ IXQQ\ W ZDV UHD VWDJH ZKLFK P\ PXP WKRXJK Sound of Musical and Ireland Tour, soon after that and got the job. they asked me to stay I started off as ‘swing’ which meant I covered the parts of Brigitta and Marta. After six months role of all the children. speaking biggest the has she as amazing was which time, full Brigitta and I played the role of DUVHG WKH SDUW EHIRUH HYHU UHKH 7KHQ WKH JLUO ZKR SOD\HG *UHWO ZDV VLFN ˉYH PLQXWHV EHIRUH WKH VKRZ VWDUWHG , KDG Q costume and the stage her into change quickly to had I and I got asked to play the role that evening. It was so exciting. up. go to about was curtain the as stage the to up me manager put me on his back and had to run

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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your life

Dove keep s her hair lookin g girl y an df res hw ith l ace.

Gold heart pendant necklace ASOS, £38

White lace top River Island, £32

Buckled Skinny Belt New Look, £6.99

Light denim skater skirt ASOS, £24

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e l y st

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i ng s ba on trend w

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on stay mer

White sleeved shirt

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th

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m.

de ni

Trucker Denim Jacket Ralph Lauren, £140

Twill trousers H&M, £19.99

words: Pippa Moyle

Red Converse Schuh £45

e c y o B n o r e m Ca

l a e t s

ameron ver Dove C e Ross’ o g in h s ru c uk been style Cameron Boyce (‘L ought e ’v e w , th This mon iv and Maddie) and ionable ways, we th you. L h sh (‘Liv’ from ). To honour their fa and share them wit ie m s from Jes a few tips from the we’d steal TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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12 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

words: Katie Davies

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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Adrianna juggles meeting the A-list and studying for exams while still looking fab.

14 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

“People are going to try and stop you from getting there because at the end of the day, everyone wants the same thing. “ w! e i v r inte

Star of the stage and screen, Adrianna Bertola reveals all on bullying, ambition, and what it’s really like to be the pint-size version of pop princess Jessie J.

L

istening to her favourite Justin Bieber songs as she revises for her GCSEs, Adrianna Bertola could be mistaken for any other year 10. But at just 15, Adrianna is already a West End veteran with a Twitter fanbase of more than 38,000 followers. It seems more than crazy for a girl who only auditioned for her debut role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, ‘The Sound of Music’ for a bit of fun. The role catapulted Adrianna and her

family from their sleepy seaside town of Leigh-on-sea to the bright lights of London – but Adrianna’s career was just beginning. Working with two other girls, she helped to create the leading role in the now global hit Matilda – The Musical, after being chosen to star in the show’s debut in Stratford. “It was quite challenging for everyone because these characters had never been portrayed before,” said Adrianna, “But it was really nice to start off a character and

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

15

think, maybe in ten years time when this shows running, they’ll be doing things we did and carrying on all the thoughts and emotions we put into the characters.” But when Adrianna eventually grew too tall for the role – the Matilda actresses all being smaller than a tiny 4 foot three inches – it was far from the end of her story. Adrianna went on to perform as Violet Beauregard in another Roald Dahl classic, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Not only did she perform for thousands at the Drury Lane Theatre every night, but she met A-list celebrities at the press night party including Sarah Jessica Parker, Graham Norton and Matthew Morrison. Musical theatre is Adrianna’s passion, but one of her biggest breaks came when her agent called her about an audition for a music video. “I came home from school and my Mum said, “Oh, you’ve got an audition

“You can’t

let anyone tell you :

“you can’t do it”

“

for a music video … with Jessie J,” says Adrianna. “I was so excited. I am absolutely crazy about Jessie J. She’s always been my idol and always will be.” It was only when Adrianna arrived at the audition she was told the video we would be auditioning for was one of her favourite songs, ‘Who’s Laughing Now’. “I think it has a really strong message about bullying, which is really important to me,” she says. I’ve had my experiences with bullying and no one should have to go through it. “There was a rumour going around that Jessie J was going to be at the audition. I didn’t think she’d really be 16 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

anyone tell you you can’t do it.â€? Adrianna says that part of her success is to do with her parents who have given up their life to move to London so she could follow her dream. “My parents are so supportive, it’s amazing. They really do so much for me. They take me to auditions all the time and they are always there for me. They’ve given up so much for me and PDGH VR PDQ\ VDFULˉFHV MXVW VR , FRXOG go to the school I wanted to go to.â€? “They left everything behind. I could never repay them for that. “All my family is supportive, no matter where they live in the world they’ve always got my back and are so proud of me whenever I achieve something.â€? Adrianna’s taken a break from the stage to focus on her exams but hopes to keep building on her career as an actress. “After college, I’d like to go to America and see everything there. I’d love to go and see Hollywood and get D UHDO WDVWH RI KRZ ˉOP DQG 79 ZRUN ,Č G OLNH WR SOD\ D OHDG UROH LQ D ˉOP something quite serious. “My advice to anyone reading this is don’t give up and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it because I’m sure you can with the right amount of

“You  can  do anything  you  want  to.

FOCUS on  your  dream &  one  day you  might  be  living  it.

“

passion you have. You can do anything you want to, focus on your dream and one day, you might be living it.�

words: Emily Keston & Katie Davies

coming to the audition because she was so busy promoting albums. “While we were waiting at the audition, we saw a woman get out of the lift with a hoodie on and a broken ankle. At the time, Jessie had a broken ankle so everyone was going, ‘Oh my gosh! It’s Jessie J! It’s Jessie J!’� Jessie J was holding auditions for an actress to play her as a young girl “I was so starstruck in the audition, I was a bit like ‘oh my god my idol is sitting right there’,� says Adrianna. “Jessie was so nice and made me feel relaxed. I don’t normally get nervous in audition rooms, but it was alright because she made me feel like I’d known her for years.� “I was almost crying when I left! I got to meet my idol! I love her so much. I was screaming.� A couple of days later, she got the call saying she would be mini Jessie J. “I cried for a few hours,� she said. “Every time we did a scene together we’d always have a joke around. “I had to throw jelly in her face during the video. We had to do that TXLWH D IHZ WLPHV EHFDXVH WKH ˉUVW time I couldn’t do it. I said ‘No, I can’t throw jelly at my idol’. But, really she was so lovely, talented and funny.� “It was one of the best days of my life.� Jessie is not Adriana’s only idol, with others include Kerry Ellis, Idina Menzel, Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande. “I actually met Ariana Grande. I was asking for her advice and she said to me don’t give up and you’ll get there.� Ultimately, Adrianna dreams of playing the lead role Elphaba in hit musical Wicked, but she knows that it will not be an easy journey to get to the top. “If you want to be successful in this business you have to be strong,� she says. You can’t let

READING WINDSOR BRACKNELL FREE SAMPLE SESSION Experience a brilliant training in performing arts delivered by professional performers and coaches, learning skills & techniques that you will practise by working towards shows, productions, cabarets and showcases. EVERYTHING YOU NEED - IN ONE PLACE ON ONE DAY

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Tel: 07833221135

email: enrol@sota.uk.com

www.sota.uk.com

318 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

training

SOCIAL Â Â MEDIA WOES

STOP, Â READ, Â THINK

5HPHPEHU LI \RXU VRFLDO PHGLD SURˉOHV DUH SXEOLF then anyone can see them. That includes casting directors. If you’re about to post something, stop, read and think, ‘would I like my mum to see this?’ If you’re posting something you wouldn’t want your mum to see, chances are you wouldn’t want a casting director to see it either. Don’t miss out on your big break because you posted a stupid photo!

PROMOTE Â YOURSELF Â

Think of your social media accounts like an online job application. If you’ve got a role in a play make sure you tell the world. If someone looks at your social media accounts they should immediately be able to see that you want to be a performer and you’re interested in acting, music and dancing.

BE Â CAREFUL

This is a challenge but if you can get a 1,000 people following you then that’s a really good start. If you’re a great actor or actress having a small following may mean you get your dream role. If people are interested in what you post then you can encourage people to go to watch \RX LQ D SOD\ RU ˉOP $ FDVWLQJ GLUHFWRU ZLOO WKLQN ‘A great actor/actress and a fan base, what’s not to love?!’

FOLLOW Â THE Â RIGHT Â PEOPLE

If you’re following casting directors chances are \RXČ OO EH RQH RI WKH ˉUVW SHRSOH WR NQRZ DERXW auditions. You can also have conversations with them about things they post. It’s the easiest way to get noticed but don’t just ask them for a job, they’ll ignore you and you’ll be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

HAVE Â FUN

Social media is a great way to share things you love and things that are happening in your life. The more active you are on social media, the bigger fan base you will create so enjoy it. Follow  us  @  talent_magazine

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

words: Caroline Brockelbank

It’s very easy to lie online. Just because someone tells you they’re a casting director it doesn’t necessarily mean they are. Do as much research as you can to make sure they’re telling the truth. Search their name online, go on any websites of agencies they say they work for. If there is a phone number for an agency, call it and check the person is legitimate. If they ask you to meet up, always take an adult with you, a casting director would never ask to see you on your own.

DEVELOP Â A Â FAN Â BASE

19

training

tips

l a r nt

e c  N O I

so you don’t panic

T I D U A

vocal  health

As a performer, there is nothing worse than getting ill or losing our voice the day before an audition or performance. We’re on hand to bring you some top tips on how to look after your voice when you have a cold of cough.

REST

STEAM

Singing is such a great release and a really fun thing to do. But there will come a time when your body will feel tired and your voice will feel a little sore. When that happens, have a rest and get back to it in the morning!

$VN \RXU SDUHQWV WR ˉOO D JODVV bowl with boiling water. Place your face a hand-width away from the water, put a towel over your head and breathe slowly. This will clear your airways WARNING - Do not touch the boiling water and make sure your parents are nearby.

DRINK Water is essential to everything but it’s especially essential for singers! Most singers drink around 4-6 bottles of water a day! Lemon, ginger and honey tea is good too if you’re voice is tired. The most important thing is to keep hydrated - but avoid ˉ]]\ GULQNV WKH\ PD\ WDVWH JUHDW WR \RX EXW WKH\Č UH not so great for the voice.

FOOD: Avoid dairy before you perform (so no chocolate or cheese!) - Go easy on the meat (especially red) - Eat lots of green vegetables - Avoid citrus fruits before you perform

*****

- Stay off the junk food!

20 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

(DW ˉVK ,WČ V JRRG IRU WKH EUDLQ

**

handling your nerves

Sweaty palms, trembling speech and just some of the many things that forgetting your lines are your nerves can affect. It’s easier said than done, but you’re doi should enjoy it! We’ve come up wit ng what you love - you h the best 5 ways that you can keep calm and be brilliant.

BREATHE

REMEMBER, you ar

e PR

EPARED Close your eyes, block out Adrianna has faced bullying despite Ner ves are completely in your control - they the room and take one big ’re your her success. nerves after all! It’s easy to be you deep breath. Hold it for r own worst critic, but go easy on yourself. You wouldn’t 1, 2, 3… and release for 1, 2, 3… and have signed up for the repeat! audition if you didn’t think you wer e good enough.

PICK YOUR OUTFIT I

N ADVANCE

Choosing what to wear for an aud WARM UP ition is tough! Decide on \RXU DXGLWLRQ RXWˉW WKH QLJKW EHIRUH DW WKH YHU\ ODWHVW ,WȠOO EH You already know that warming up is one less thing to worry about on the day. important before training, but it’s also really important on the day of an aud ition too. It’s a great way to mentally prep are yourself for an audition! CASTING

DIRECTORS AR

E PEOPLE TOO

!

words: Pippa Moyle & Emily Keston

Casting directors are not as scary as they seem. They’ve been through exactly the same process as you at some point so they know how you feel! Just be yourself and show them what you’re made of.

t s i l y a l p n o i t i d u pre-­a

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TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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Layton Williams was 12 years old when his mum found an advert in his local paper for the Billy Elliot cast. He had no ballet, jazz or tap training when he went to the audition, but walked away from it as the star of the show. Seven years on, Layton is now touring the country with internationally renowned Matthew Bourne’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ and preparing to film the third series of BBC Three’s ‘Bad Education’. Pippa caught up with him to see how things are going.

the real

BILLY elliot TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

23

i  hated  ballet classes  at  first

Layton in Lord of the Flies (2014)

H

i Layton, how’s it going? Where are you at the moment? Hey, I’m in Glasgow! I’m a bit tired though because we all went bowling last night. Sounds like fun! Did you win? No, it looked like I was going to but I came third. Gutted! It was a great night off work though. I can imagine! Was this a ‘Lord of the Flies’ night out? Yes, the cast have been touring the country and working with local young amateur dancers in each place. Last night we were getting to know our new Glasgow team. How’s the tour going so far? It’s amazing! Everyone I’ve met has so much hunger and passion for dance.

24 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

How long did it take you to train? It took about a year. I hated ballet :RZ KRZ GR \RX ˉW LW DOO LQ ZLWK WKH FODVVHV DW ˉUVW , ZDV DOZD\V PRUH RI Č&#x;%DG (GXFDWLRQČ Ë‰OPLQJ" a contemporary dancer. But, I came Bad Education have been amazingly around to it in the end! VXSSRUWLYH ,Č YH EHHQ DEOH WR ˉW P\ schedule around both. The team And now you’re working with one VWDUW ˉOPLQJ QH[W ZHHN of the best choreographers in the country! Had you been on the stage How exciting! I’m so happy there’s before Billy? another series coming out. What’s No, not really. I guess Billy Elliot was the script like? P\ ˉUVW UHDO GHEXW I’ve got to say, it’s the best one yet! What a debut! So where did you go :RR 6R ˉOO XV LQ KRZ GLG LW DOO VWDUW" from there? Well, I started dancing at about 10 in After two years of Billy Elliot, I went a little dance school in Bury, Greater back to Bury for a little bit then Manchester. My mum told me to go got a place at a London Theatre for the Billy Elliot audition in she’d School. I had a few TV appearances, seen our local paper. I thought she and am now working with Matthew ZDV FUD]\ DW ˉUVW Bourne and playing Stephen in Bad Education. This sounds like a real Billy Elliot story... It sounds like you’ve been juggling a It kind of is. I didn’t have any lot over the past few years - a touring ballet, tap or jazz experience. I just dance show, a TV show and school pretended I knew what I was doing work! How do you manage it? in the auditions.

words: Pippa Moyle

You’ve really been able to see the country! When do you rehearse? Yeah, I really have. We rehearse Monday to Saturday from 10am until

6pm. It’s a really long day sometimes.

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26 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Layton as Billy Elliot (2007)

“you have to work harder that you ever think you can to get what you waNt.” I have the best job in the world. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the past few years, it’s that you have to work harder than you ever think you can to get what you want. You’re graduating from Italia Conti this summer, right? Have you been able to go there much with all your work? I am! I graduate in a few weeks! I feel really bad because I’m Head Boy and I haven’t had a chance to go in much. I’ve mostly been doing my essays on tour in rehearsal breaks or after the

layton’s advice to you

show. How important was it for you to go to theatre school? Training is so important. I went to Sylvia Young and Italia Conti and both of these experiences really made me the performer I am today. So if you had to choose between your dream dance part or your dream musical theatre part, which would you choose? Ummmmmm... oh, that’s a tough one. I love both so much. I guess I would

have to go with my gut at the time, WKDWȠV KRZ , WHQG WR PDNH DOO GLIˉFXOW decisions. Did you ever imagine when you were going to the dance school in Bury that you would end up where you are now? Honestly, not at all. I loved dancing, but I never thought in a million years that I would make a career out of it! Alright then. Team TALENT wishes you luck, and speak soon Layton!

as possible * Try to get on the stage as young t there, but passion for * You may not be the best dancer ou er dance will make you bett amateurs * Remember that all professionals start out as

* Get your mind set and get your training * Be committed in everything you do an you can handle

* Don’t take on more th

comfort zone things outside of your

*Push yourself to try new

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

27

training

9 h]j^gje]j \g]kf l f]]\ Yf Y_]fl$ Zml kge]lae]k `Ynaf_ gf] [Yf k]jagmkdq `]dh& 9_]flk [Yf f]_glaYl] ^]]k$ lYdc lg \aj][lgjk Yf\ [Yklaf_ Y_]flk$ jYak] qgmj hjgÚd] Yf\ Úf\ ghhgjlmfala]k& Af j]lmjf$ qgm _an] l`]e [geeakkagf& Lg Úf\ Yf Y_]fl$ qgm emkl mkmYddq k]f\ l`]e Yf Y[laf_ ;N Yf\ Y h`glg g^ qgmjk]d^& :ml Újkl$ ^gddgo gmj l]f lgh lahk lg &&&

find an agent

1. find where you fit in

Different agencies represent different kinds of performers. Some may have more success and contacts in different areas, like TV or on stage. Make VXUH \RX ˉQG RXW DERXW DOO WKH GLIIHUHQW W\SHV

3. network, network, network

Talk to everyone you know to see if they can recommend a good agent. If you don’t know anybody you can talk to, look on trustworthy forums and websites.

5. tailor your CV

7. show what you can do Don’t be afraid to attach a CD or DVD to your CV showing what you can do. It can be a copy of a commercial you’ve acted in, a song, or a clip of you reading a monologue. Just remember not to make it too long and to put your name on the disk!

9. be careful

Sometimes, people will pretend to be agents so that they can steal people’s money. Genuine agents will never ask for money up front.

10. never give up Just because you get rejected from an agency, it doesn’t mean that you’re not good enough - often, the agency simply doesn’t have a space free at the moment, RU SHUKDSV \RX GRQȠW ˉW LQ ZLWK WKH FOLHQWV WKH\ DOUHDG\ KDYH ,I DW ˉUVW \RX GRQȠW succeed - try again!

28 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Most agents only have limited spaces on their books - so what makes you different to the clients they already have? Do you have a distinctive look? Write down any special skills you have - even if it doesn’t seem important.

4. make a shortlist Now that you have some ideas about which agencies you’d like to use, make a shortlist. Find out everything you can about them and if you can, talk to actors on their books

adshots e h r e id s n o c . 6 Not all agents want professional headshots, but they can make a good impression and show an agent that you’re serious about performing.

8.email, call, email Agents are very busy people! If you don’t hear back straight away, don’t assume that they don’t want to work with you - but they may need a little push to remind them to pick up the phone. Don’t be afraid to call an agent to ask if they’re received your CV after a week or two.

words: Katie Davies

Don’t send out the same CV to every agency! Different agents are interested in different things - so, if you know one agent likes to take on children who have done commercial work, make sure that you put that near the top. And remember, always write a letter addressed with the name of the agent.

2. what makes you different

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29

DITCH THE Even for spotlight loving wannabe stars, sitting for headshots -­ the photos you’ll send out to agents to try and get an audition -­ can be a nerve wracking ordeal.

But forget the phoney photographers with sky high price tags. Instead, make sure you bag those all-­important shots with TALent’s top tips from West End headshot photographer (and self-­confessed camera nerd) Paul Smith.

“

You should always talk to the photographer beforehand,” says Paul. “You need to be at ease whilst sitting your headshots, so if a photographer is in any way brief or discourteous then move on. “I do see some rather appalling headshots that people have paid the earth for. Nowadays, it is really easy for people just to buy a DSLR camera – but no matter how much someone spends on equipment, it needs to be operated by someone who has the technical knowhow, an understanding of framing their subject and use of light. “You’ll know a good

30 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

photographer because they’ll be consistent. If someone has a portfolio with only a handful of good shots, then walk away. There should be a range of images on hand for you to see. Look for a consistent style and most importantly check out their reviews and recommendations. As well as websites, the majority of photographers will have Facebook and Twitter pages updating their activities and work. “The most important thing is that they understand what you need as a client.” But, just what should you be getting from your headshot sitting after parting with all that precious cash? “Constant communication with the photographer is a must,” says Paul, “and they should be checking on your well-being and satisfaction constantly. You should not feel pressurised and if you are feeling uncomfortable, stop. Any negative feelings or discomfort are always apparent in the images. “As a photographer, I am aware of the quality of the shots I am capturing and share them continuously with the model. If you ever attend a session and the photographer does not advise you on how to stand, the position your head and body, or if they don’t work at bringing out several different looks DQG DOORZ \RX WR KDYH VHYHUDO RXWˉW changes, then down tools! “Choice of lenses and lighting really help to make an effective headshot. Lighting should show the shape of the face, the true colour of the eyes and

training

DUCKFACE

skin, and in my opinion, the head shot should be edited to remove blemishes that should not be there. Without sounding like a geek, (I know I do!), the best lenses ensure that the back ground of the shot is completely blurred. I always say with a head shot that if you can distinguish the background then it GHˊHFWV IURP WKH PDLQ VXEMHFW RI WKH shot… you!” So when you’ve chosen your photographer and your looks and it’s your time to shine, how can you make sure that your headshots are ready to dazzle casting agents everywhere? According to Paul, preparation is everything. “It is important that you obtain a variation of styles within your sitting,” says Paul. “A head shot allows the casting director to get as much of an idea about the true appearance of the actor with the scope to imagine them in a costume or role. I always recommend people bringing as many changes of clothes as possible. With the amount of time I allocate for each shoot, we are able to try out shirts, jumpers, jackets etc, to get as many styles as possible. “For clothes, crazy patterns should be avoided. Traditionally plain low neck tops for girls and round or v neck tops for the boys. Co-ordinate the colour of your clothing with your eyes and hair colour. It is really apparent that people have had a good think about their appearance and it really strengthens your photographs. I always recommend a small amount of makeup. The more natural the better, however.”

picture perfect! ll show off the real

A good headshot wi

you!

THE BIG QUESTIONS

Don’t be caught out! When you’re talking to your photographer, make sure you ask: words: Katie Davies

1. How long will you get in front of the camera? 2. How many shots will you be able to view before choosing your final images? 3. How many final images do you receive? 4. When will I receive my finals?

5. Do you charge for additional shots? 6. How long do you store the RAW images for? 7. How many tops should I bring? 8. What colours and neck tops should I bring?

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

31

Redroofs Theatre School Berkshires Leading School of Performing Arts

info@redroofs.co.uk 01628 674092 www.redroofs.co.uk

Full Time Day School & 6th Form

Co-­‐educational Full Time School offering an integrated Academic & Performing Arts Education Year 5-­‐13 inclusive. Redroofs Full Time School (Years 6-13) aims to offer a purposeful and inspirational education within a family school, for boys and girls with a strong creative bias. Our sixth form offers a BTEC Level 3 Extended Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) with an optional ISTD DDI Dance Teachers Qualification. As part of our weekly timetable we offer professional development in RAD Ballet, ISTD Tap, ISTD Modern, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Singing, Drama and a full Academic curriculum of up to 10 GCSES (AQA) then to BTEC Level 3 Extended (equivalent of 3 A Levels, taught in a highly practical Musical Theatre timetable). Our Vocational and Academic classes are fully integrated into our exceptional 5 day programme where the standard day runs from 8.15-3pm and Clubs, additional Choir and Dance Troupes run until 5pm. Our Upper School Specialisms in either Dance or Acting and Media enables pupils to make vocational choices. Our Acting and Media Specialism includes Photography, Editing, Acting, Play Production and Camera skills and the Dance will include Contemporary, Street, Hip Hop and Audition Workshop. With a total understanding of the commitments of young performers appearing in the WEST END shows, TV & Film MATILDA, EASTENDERS, MALEFICENT, PUBLIC ENEMY, BILLY ELLIOT, OL-­‐ IVER! SINGING IN THE RAIN, SOUND OF MUSIC, ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA, LES MISERABLES, WIZARD OF OZ, SHREK, ENDEAVOUR...

REDROOFS HOST HOUSE 32 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK ACCOMODATION AVAILABLE

have you thought about...

wigs and makeup? the theatre industry. If your It’s no secret that performers only make up a small percentage of s, endless amounts of hair dressing table is decorated with eyeshadow palettes, makeup brushe a career in theatrical makeup products and the occasional flick of nail varnish it could be that ssional wigs and makeup artist is for you. To give you a better idea of the job, we asked a profe how she got into it and what advice she could give to you.

Name: Fiona Keston Location: Stratford Upon Avon Job title: Wigs and Makeup, Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Job role: Working on productions, making wigs, dealing with wig maintenance and helping with the running of shows

How did you end up working at The RSC?

I always wanted to work in wigs and makeup. I got really lucky and did six weeks doing cover work many years ago at the Royal 6KDNHVSHDUH &RPSDQ\ LQ /RQGRQ 0\ ˉUVW VKRZ ZDV ȟ/RYHV /Dbours Lost’. After that, I was offered a full time job!

Have you worked on children’s shows at the RSC? I recently worked on Peter Pan and on the original production of Matilda the Musical.

What was it like to be part of the original Production of Matilda? We all knew that the collaboration with Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly would result in an extraordinary production. It was a long process because we had to work with several teams of children, who all had to go through hair and makeup during the rehearsal process. I’m still proud of being part of it to this day.

What is your favourite part of working in Hair and make up? Working closely and creatively with actors and helping them RQ WKHLU MRXUQH\ WR ˉQG WKHLU FKDUDFWHUV ,WȠV VRPHWKLQJ WKDW hair and makeup plays a large part in.

What is the most challenging part of the job? Working in hair and makeup requires a lot of energy and stamina and keeping that up through a production can often be draining.

What was your favourite job you’ve ever worked on? I’d have to say that working on Matilda has been a real career highlight for me.

Fiona’s advice for any of you

wanting to work in hair and make up

rdressing especially if your Get a good grounding in hai atre thinking of working in the the - a lot of actors actually do Work on your make up skills d to be able to step in most of their own, and you nee when you’re needed HFLDO HIIHFWV PDNHXS %H FRQˉGHQW ZLWK FUHDWLQJ VS

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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34 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

TALENT POSTER

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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words: Liyana Yeo

TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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t

h g i s in

38 38 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

INTERVIEW

Have  you  ever  dreamed  about  being  in  a  Disney  film?  Perhaps  you  imagined  youself  as  Princess  Belle  or  Prince  Charming?  What  about  Maleficient? Â

Perhaps  not  the  conventional  dream  character  to  play  but  would  you  turn  down  the  offer  to  play  Disney’s  most  iconic  villan?  No,  neither  would  we.  And  neither  did  Isobelle  Molloy  when  she  was  given  the  chance.

mini-angelina I

words: Rochelle Barrand

sobelle, 13, stars as young version of the title character in Disney’s ODWHVW EORFNEXVWHU Ȣ0DOHˉFHQWČŁ 7KH ˉOP H[SORUHV WKH XQWROG VWRU\ of Disney’s infamous evil fairy from the classic “Sleeping Beautyâ€? and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. “My character could be seen in two different ways, she’s not evil but not happy.,“ says Isobelle. The VWRU\ XQIROGV WR VKRZ 0DOHˉFHQWČ V side of the story, but that’s all I can say. You’ll have to go and watch the ˉOP ČŁ Isobelle, who trains at Redroofs agency in Berkshire, said being LQ 0DOHˉFHQW ZDV DQ ȢLQFUHGLEOH experienceâ€?. “Angelina Jolie was lovely! We spoke about our different costumes and she said to me if I needed any help or if I had any questions she would be happy to help. “I had a different costume to her but we both had to wear horns and contact lenses that made our eyes change to a limey-green colour.â€? “A few people have said I look like Angelina Jolie, now I have been cast as a young her, but I can’t see it myself!â€? “It’s a dream come true to be in a 'LVQH\ ˉOP , VWLOO FDQČ W EHOLHYH LW ,W was an incredible experience.â€? Isobelle has been waiting for a long time to see herself on the bigscreen. 6KH EHJDQ ˉOPLQJ IRU WKH UROH LQ September 2012. Ȣ, ˉOPHG P\ VFHQHV DW 3LQHZRRG

Studios here in the UK, but I did have to go to L.A. for a week to have a scan for the special effects. “One of the best special effects ZDV ËŠ\LQJ EHLQJ DEOH WR ËŠ\ ZDV RQH of the most amazing parts about the ˉOP EXW , ORYHG DOO RI LW ČŁ “I even had my own trailer which VDLG Č&#x;\RXQJ 0DOHˉFHQWČ RQ WKH GRRU ,W was all very exciting!â€? Ȣ, VDZ WKH ˉOP IRU WKH ˉUVW WLPH at the cast and crew screening in Leicester Square. “I was very nervous about seeing myself on the big screen! I thought it would be strange, but it wasn’t.â€? :KLOH ,VREHOOH ZDV ˉOPLQJ VKH KDG to miss school, but she still made sure she kept up with her work. “I get tutored and I make sure I keep with any missed work. School is important to me! I love it at school. “Sometimes it’s hard balancing school work and shows, but I am very lucky to be at Redroofs as they sort it all out for me and they are very supportive.â€? Isobelle got in to Redroofs two years ago, when a member of the agency saw her on the stage in the lead role of Matilda and asked her if she wanted to audition for a scholarship. “I had to prepare a song, dance and a monologue for my audition. I was a bit nervous, but I stayed focused, smiled and did my best – That’s the advice I would give to anybody who is wanting to get in to drama school.â€? Unbelievably, it was the same performance that also landed

Isobelle the role of young 0DOHˉFHQW “The casting director saw me in Matilda and contacted my agent and asked if I would like to audition for a UROH LQ WKH ˉOP EXW WKH\ GLG QRW WHOO me which role they were considering PH IRU XQWLO WKH ˉQDO VFUHHQ WHVW ČŁ “I had different scripts from other ˉOPV IRU P\ DXGLWLRQV DQG RQ WKH ˉQDO VFUHHQ WHVW WKH\ VHQW D FDU WR come to my house and pick us up and take us to Pinewood Studios. “That’s when they told me I had WKH UROH RI \RXQJ 0DOHˉFHQW It was all so amazing! It was a very posh car,. My dad said it was a Mercedes but I’m not very good with cars!â€? Isobelle has no plans to leave her theatre background behind in favour of the big screen. However, she is thankful for every opportunity she is given. “Film and theatre are completely different, but I love them both equally. With theatre, there is a live adrenaline and a buzz from the DXGLHQFH DQG ZLWK ˉOPLQJ \RX JHW D different type of adrenaline and buzz EHFDXVH D ELJ ˉOP VHW ZLWK DOO WKH crew is so exciting.â€? “Mum and Dad have really supported me and taught me to follow my dreams and be thankful for all I have got so far. “I would love to carry on in this business in the future. I have had a few auditions come up for different things, I can’t say much, but I’m NHHSLQJ P\ ˉQJHUV FURVVHG ČŁ 'LVQH\Č V 0DOHˉFHQW LV LQ FLQHPDV QRZ TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

39

How do you solve Matilda-mania is spreading across the globe with shows opening in Australia and on Broadway. ! But as producers in New York announce that e v i s u excl the actors playing Matilda stateside will be paid almost £1,000 more each week than their British counterparts, Talent asks: are young actors being ripped off?

B

ased on one of the best-loved children’s books of all time, Matilda: the musical is tearing up the West End with glowing reviews and sky high ticket sales. But for heading up the all-singing, all-dancing three hour extravaganza, actresses playing the lead role can only expect £60 per show. It’s hard to believe that the young stars playing the lead role can in fact be earning less than the cost of a full-price ticket. Actresses are paid £60 for each of the two shows they appear in each

40 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

week, and £30 for each of the two shows where they remain on ‘stand-by.’ Rehearsal fees usually boost overall pay each week to about £250. When you factor in travel costs, it’s unlikely they get much change out of their pay. Compare that to the £1,095 expected by the American cast at New York’s Shubert Theatre and you we can see that there is clearly a massive difference. So why is the wage for heading up one of London’s hottest shows so low?

The show isn’t struggling for funds – the theatre can make around £7,000 per show, with tickets for a Saturday night performance costing up to £85 each. All four girls playing Matilda in its West End debut - Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Eleanor Worthington Cox and Sophia Kiely - beat top adult stars by winning both the 2012 Laurence Olivier Award and the What’s On Stage award for best actress. Despite this they are still paid far less than their adult co-stars. This all looks increasingly likely that

a problem like

? words: Caroline Brockelbank Photographs: Helen Maybanks

these young stars are being ripped off, but there currently is no minimum wage for people under 16-years-old. This means that it is perfectly legal to pay young performers a much smaller wage. Isobelle Molloy played Matilda in 2011. Her mum, Leanne CornwellMolloy, exclusively told TALENT about Isobelle’s experience. She said: “Isobelle got paid very differently from Matilda’s in Broadway. It would be easy to get cross about it, but on the other hand Matilda was the best platform Isobelle could have asked for and she wouldn’t be where she is today without it.” Playing the lead role in a West End show is an incredibly good way to

publicise yourself and get noticed in the industry. Equity is a trade union which represents performers in the UK and they allow people from the age of 1015 to join. Some people are calling on Equity to introduce a minimum rate that child performers should be paid. Equity currently have guidelines which state a child performer should be paid at least 50% of an adult’s wage. We asked Leanne Cornwell-Molloy, if she wishes Isobelle had been paid a higher wage. She said: “It stings a bit as she could have built herself a bit if a nest egg but we wouldn’t change a thing. You have to be positive. She’s been a lucky little girl.” A spokesperson for the show told

the Daily Mail: “We are content that the young actresses who play Matilda are paid fees that are appropriately above the Equity recommendations. “Each actress typically performs in two shows a week and is on standby for another two. “The producers also pay for chaperones for the children and meet some meal and travel costs.” So does all of this mean you can expect more money if you make it into a West End show? Not yet. There is still a long way to go before any regulations change. But it has sparked a debate about the pay of young performers which can only be a positive thing. TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

41

S E R T A E H T Â L A N O I G RE When we think of theatres, it is odd that we forget the UK has much more than the West End. But once we do step out of London, we realise that regional theatres stand out with their local ËŠDYRXU KLVWRU\ IXWXULVWLF GHVLJQV DQG UHVLGHQW JKRVWV %HORZ DUH WKHDWUHV WKDW \RX VLPSO\ have to see. King s Theatre, Glasgow

With 1,704 seats, it is the biggest theatre in Glasgow. 2SHQHG LQ WKH ˉQDO WRXFKHV RI WKHDWUH ZHUH 3DOH\ and Waly - two cherub statues that welcomes you. The King’s Theatre originally cost £50,000 to build, which would be £3.5million today. It is said that the original lights were so hot that operators cooked bacon and eggs on them just to prove they needed a fan.

The Grand Opera House, Belfast

Belfast’s largest and oldest theatre has survived two world wars and two bomb attacks since it was built back in 1895.Despite being converted to a cinema back in the 1960s, the Grand Opera House now hosts everything from traditional ballet and opera recitals to Scooby Doo on Stage.

Royal Exchange, Manchester

Renovated after the IRA bombing of 1996, the Royal Exchange sits quite out of place within the surviving part of the city’s 19th-century architecture. On November 30, 1998, the theatre reopened with Stanley Houghton’s Hindle Wakes, the play that was being recited when the bomb went off. The theatre’s main restaurant shuts during performances, allowing the actors to rush around the outside of the auditorium instead of the usual narrow backstage.

Hippodrome, Bristol

Built in 1912, the Baroque-styled Bristol Hippodrome was ahead of its time. It had a spectacular 100,000-galleon water tank constructed in front of the stage. An enormous glass screen could be raised to protect the front few seats from splashes. Still a unique feature of the theatre that still survives is the dome URRI WKDW FDQ EH VOLG RSHQ WR UHYHDO WKH QLJKW VN\ KRZHYHU since air-conditioning has been installed it is rarely opened.

Minack Theatre, Penzance Clinging to the edge of a cliff, and four miles off Land’s End, the Minack Theatre looks like the Romans built it. The ‘Minack’, Cornish for rocky place, was literally hand-craved by Rowena with only the help of two other master builders. She decorated the surfaces with intricate Celtic designs using nothing else but a screwdriver. Recitals at this open-air theatre are simply gorgeous under the stars, and with the crashing of the waves. 42 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

INDUSTRY

you  really  should  know  about His Majesty s Theatre, Aberdeen 7KH ˉUVW WKHDWUH LQ WKH ZRUOG WR EH EXLOW HQWLUHO\ RI JUDQLWH His Majesty’s Theatre had a distinct new glass-fronted box RIˉFH ˉWWHG DORQJ ZLWK QHZ SOXVK VHDWV GXULQJ UHIXUELVKPHQWV in 1999. On it’s 100th anniversary, in 2006, the theatre was twinned with His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth, Western Australia. Jake, a former stagehand who had an unfortunate accident with a stage hoist in 1942, haunts the theatre, and apparently moves the curtains, hoists, and lights.

Playhouse, Edinburgh

words: Liyana Yeo

Made of 1,250,000 bricks, the Playhouse is the largest theatre in the UK. New York’s Roxy Theatre inspired the ˉQDO GHVLJQV IRU WKH 3OD\KRXVH DQG LW RSHQHG RQ August 12, 1929. Like every theatre, it has a resident ghost. He appeared in the 1950s when a nightguard thought there was a break-in. The police came, and met Albert the maintenance PDQDJHU ZKR VDLG HYHU\WKLQJ ZDV ˉQH $OEHUW has not worked in the theatre for 50 years!

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield Named the best regional theatre for the second year at the 6WDJH $ZDUGV WKH /\FHXP 7KHDWUH LV VDLG WR EH ˉUHSURRI ZKHQ LW ZDV ˉUVW EXLOW LQ ,W KDV DQ DGGLWLRQDO VWHHO FXUWDLQ WKDW ZRXOG GURS ZKHQ WKH ˉUH DODUPV ZHQW RII The theatre has its original Edwardian designs, and ornamental accents, including the statue of Mercury RQ LWV URRI $OVR QR FROXPQV KDYH EHHQ XVHG DQ uninterrupted view of the stage from every seat.

Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon

Owned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Swan Theatre occupies the former Shakespeare Memorial Theatre that was burnt down. %XLOW LQ WKH LQWHULRU UHˊHFWV WKH DFWXDO Elizabethan- styled theatre, down to the hard wood seating. The front entrance arch is hand VFXOSWXUHG ZLWK FXW EULFN RQH RI LWV NLQG 'R DVN WR go onto the theatre’s 33m-high viewing platform that gives a panoramic view of the historic town.

Theatre of Small Convinience, Worcestershire Transformed from an old Victorian Gentleman’s lavatory, the Theatre of Small Convenience is the smallest theatre building in the world, in the Guinness Book of Records. Paintings of summer skies, blue seas and wild greenery line the walls of the 12-seater theatre which feels like you’ve stepped into a magical music box. Just turn up between 2pm to 5pm, and demand for a puppet show. If you’re lucky, founder Dennis Neale will perform for you. TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

43

Juliette performing in 7KH /DVW 7HPSWDWLRQ 2I &KULV

Too poor to be famous? Juliette Caton always wanted to be a performer but there was no way her mum would be able to pay theatre school fees. But that wasn’t going to stop Juliette...

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44 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

We didn’t really have spare money to pay for lessons but my mum did her best to not let that hold me back. She was really careful with money, making sure that we never overspent on food or clothes. I had to make sure I was JRLQJ WR ZRUN KDUG DQG EHQHˉW IURP WKH classes. We decided I’d give it a go. Not long after I started dance lessons my dance teacher’s mum, June Rose, who ran a different theatre school, suggested I start theatre school full time. She saw my talent and thought I should go up for auditions. I was 11-years-old at that point but my mum didn’t tell me June thought I should attend theatre school full time. She knew I wouldn’t let her hear the end of it if she told me, and realistically, we didn’t have the money. My mum took a year to decide if I should go. She said to June: “I can’t afford private education for Juliette,

Juliette

today. words: Lanty Zhang

rom the age of seven I knew that I loved music, dance and performing. I used to make up dance routines around the sheepskin rug in my sitting room. I’d go over the rug, around, across, left to right, crashing into furniture as I went. We didn’t have CDs or MP3s we had records and the one I loved to dance to was Elton John’s and Kiki Dee’s Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. But every 3.25minutes I had to shout for my mum to come and put the record back on, I didn’t know how to do it and I wasn’t allowed to touch the record player so my mum spent her life running from the kitchen putting the record on. My mum decided to enrol me at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead to learn modern theatre dance. It was TXLWH D ˉQDQFLDO XQGHUWDNLQJ IRU P\ mum. She was a single parent trying to raise two children on a teacher’s salary.

that’s just not an option.” June didn’t draw breath, she said: “I’d offer her a scholarship.” My mum was really taken aback by that. Now that money wasn’t an issue, and she saw how much I loved it, she let me go. I loved going to theatre school full time. I’d watched FAME on TV thinking ‘I want to go to a school like that, where they dance on the desks at lunchtime. I need to be with those people.’ Of course in reality we weren’t dancing on tables.

INDUSTRY By lunchtime we wanted a break from singing and dancing. I got a job almost as soon after I started theatre school. I was an extra in the original cast of Les MisĂŠrables at the Barbican Theatre with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I was honoured to be on stage alongside some amazing actors and actresses like Frances Ruffelle and Rebecca Caine. I thought ‘I want your job! I want to be able to do that when I’m older.’ It made me focus on my training so at school I worked very very hard.

“I  thought:  â€˜I  want  your  job!  I  want  to  be  able  to  do  that  when  I’m  older.’  It  made  me  focus  on  my  training  so  at  school  I  worked  very  very  hard.â€? :KHQ , ZDV , DXGLWLRQHG IRU D ˉOP called The Last Temptation of Christ. I didn’t hear back from them so I forgot about it. Then we moved house and the people who moved into our old house called us and said: “There’s an American trying to call you, we don’t know who it is but we’ve given them your number, hope that’s ok.â€? We thought that was odd but we didn’t think about it. Then RQH GD\ , KDG MXVW ˉQLVKHG VFKRRO PH and my mum were discussing what we might have for dinner, and then the phone rang. “Is this Juliette Caton?â€? “Yes‌â€? “Hold the line, Martin Scorsese is calling.â€? I stood there on the phone wondering who Martin Scorsese was and why he was calling me.

I called over to my mum: “This woman just said Martin Scorsese is calling?� She screeched: “ARE YOU JOKING?!� She totally knew the enormity of it, but I didn’t really understand at 13. Martin Scorsese said: “Hi Juliette. I’m the Director of The Last Temptation of Christ. We’re really thrilled that you’re going to be doing the movie.� I was focussing so much on his American accent that I barely heard him. “What did you just say?� I whispered. “That we’re very happy you’re going to be in the movie.� My jaw dropped. “Wow. Thank-you!� He started talking about the movie and I wrote on a piece of paper ‘Mum, I’ve got it!’ and there he was on the other end of the line saying: “You’re going to be coming out to Morocco.� I was on the phone in complete silence. I couldn’t get my breath. After I got that part, things really started to pick up for me. A year later I was cast in a children’s IHDWXUH ˉOP FDOOHG &RXUDJH 0RXQWDLQ :H ZHUH ˉOPLQJ LQ 1LFH DQG $XVWULD DQG WKDW ZDV WKH ˉUVW WLPH , ZDV DEOH WR SOD\ a lead role. I even got to snog Charlie Sheen! It really had a Hollywood edge to it because it was Michael Douglas and Joel Douglas who were producing it plus Charlie Sheen and Leslie Caron ZHUH ERWK LQ LW , ZDV HYHQ ˊRZQ WR the set on the top of a mountain by helicopter. It was a crazy experience for a young Berkshire 14-year-old who liked dancing to Elton John and Kiki

Backstage at Les MisÊrables with Patti Lupone and Jayne O’Mahoney Dee! After that, I did some dramas for the BBC like Screen One. I did Martin Guerre when I was 21 and that brought theatre back into my work. I continued working for another 10 years after that. In total I performed for 20 years before I decided that I really wanted to focus on coaching. In 2005 I co-founded my own theatre school, School Of The Arts (SOTA), and now I train performing artists. I’ve got a good understanding of the challenges young performers face because I’ve been there. We offer scholarships to students who are talented and we also help them with their expenses when they have auditions. I’ve loved coaching just as much as the 20 years of performing. There’s such a wealth of talent out there, but that doesn’t mean you need to be wealthy to succeed. If you work hard you can make it!

Juliette training at Redroofs Theatre School in a robin costume.

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46 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

! N I W

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d a P i t s e t a la

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47

parents 0H DQG P\ PXP DUH DOZD\V DUJXLQJ EHFDXVH VKH VD\V WKDW , VSHQG WRR PXFK WLPH OHDUQLQJ P\ OLQHV IRU D SOD\ UDWKHU WKDQ GRLQJ P\ KRPHZRUN , GR DOZD\V GR P\ KRPHZRUN EXW LQ WKH HQG VD\V WKDW , GRQÈ W SXW HQRXJK HIIRUW LQWR LW %XW GRQÈ W ZDQW WR EH DW VFKRRO , ZDQW WR EH DQ DFWUHVV I know parents can be so annoying and school can be so boring but there’s always a way to make things better. Maybe you can sit down with your mum and sort out a schedule that will make you both happier? You could replace some of your TV time with homework or learning lines. You could even ask your mum to help you learn lines so that she can understand how hard it can be to do. It’s horrible arguing with your parents, but there’s always a way around it!

training ,È P SOD\LQJ WKH $UWIXO 'RGJHU LQ P\ WKHDWUH VFKRROÈ V ˉQDO \HDU VKRZ DQG , NHHS IRUJHWWLQJ P\ OLQHV ,È YH EHHQ UHDGLQJ WKHP RYHU DQG RYHU DJDLQ DW KRPH EXW WKH\È UH QRW JRLQJ LQ +HOS Don’t panic! Nerves play a huge part in forgetting lines so the more relaxed you are, the easier it’ll be to remember your lines. Also, one really good way to remember your lines is to get someone to read through the script with you at home. Good luck!

Life  as  a  young  performer  is  fun,  but  sometimes  you’ll  face  problems  juggling  it  all.  You’ll  fall  out  with  friends,  argue  with  parents,  and  sometimes,  have  a  bad  day.  There’s  always  a  way  to  deal  with  these  situations.  Don’t  panic,  it’s  all  normal  and  a  part  of  life.

pack y p u our

 here  to  help.

Never  fear...  we’re

friends , XVHG WR UHDOO\ HQMR\ JRLQJ WR DFWLQJ FODVVHV HYHU\ 6DWXUGD\ EXW , RYHUKHDUG VRPH JLUOV LQ WKH WRLOHW VD\LQJ WKDW , ZDV WRR XJO\ WR HYHU EH IDPRXV , IHHO OLNH , QHYHU ZDQW WR VHH DQ\ RI WKHP HYHU DJDLQ DQG , GLGQÈ W JR WR FODVV ODVW ZHHN What these girls said was mean, and you shouldn’t put up with it. Tell whoever runs the class about what happened so that they can make sure that this doesn’t happen again – you’ve done nothing wrong. And remember: actors who have individual looks are often far more demand than those who look supermodel perfect – and talent and dedication is far more important than what you look like.

48 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

friends ,È P SDUW RI WKH FKRUXV IRU %LOO\ (OOLRW DQG KDYH EHHQ UHKHDUVLQJ HYHU\ RWKHU DIWHUQRRQ IRU WKH SDVW PRQWK ,È P QRZ UHDOO\ EHKLQG LQ PDWKV DQG P\ WHDFKHU KDV WROG PH WKDW , KDYH WR GURS RXW RI %LOO\ (OOLRW RU ,È OO IDLO :KDW GR , GR" , GRQÈ W ZDQW WR IDLO EXW ,È G UDWKHU EH D DFWRU WKDQ D PDWKHPDWLFLDQ It’s amazing that you’re part of the chorus for Billy Elliot! Well done! Balancing school work and rehearsals is one of the hardest parts of being a \RXQJ SHUIRUPHU <RX FDQ ˉQG ORDGV RI DGYLFH IURP performers themselves on our website. The most important thing to do is to force yourself to study in your spare time. I know rehearsals are exhausting but you don’t want to fall behind in your school work!

health

, ORYH VLQJLQJ EXW , FDQ RQO\ HYHU VLQJ WKUHH VRQJV LQ D URZ EHIRUH , JHW RXW RI EUHDWK DQG P\ WKURDW VWDUWV KXUWLQJ ,È P ZRUULHG P\ YRLFH LV EURNHQ DQG LI , NHHS VLQJLQJ WKHQ ,È OO QHYHU EH DEOH WR VLQJ DJDLQ ,V WKHUH DQ\WKLQJ , FDQ GR" It sounds to me like you’re not looking after your voice properly. Are you warming up and down before you start belting out? And are you breathing properly when you VLQJ" ,I QRW \RX FDQ ˉQG ORDGV RI YRFDO exercises on our website (talentmagazine. com). Also, are you drinking enough water? Try these techniques and see if they help. If not, go and have a check up at the GRFWRU 'RQÈ W SDQLF HYHU\WKLQJ ZLOO EH ˉQH

school 0\ EHVW IULHQG IURP VFKRRO IHOO RXW ZLWK PH ODVW ZHHN EHFDXVH , VSHQG WRR PXFK WLPH GDQFLQJ LQVWHDG RI KDQJLQJ RXW ZLWK KHU , UHDOO\ ZDQW WR EH D EDOOHW GDQFHU ZKHQ , JURZ XS DQG P\ WHDFKHU VD\V , QHHG WR SUDFWLFH HYHU\ GD\ WR PDNH WKLV KDSSHQ 0\ EHVW IULHQG LV QRW D GDQFHU VR VKH LV DOZD\V DVNLQJ PH WR JR WR KHU KRXVH EXW ,È P DOZD\V GDQFLQJ 6KH ZRQÈ W WDON WR PH :KDW GR , GR" Falling out with your best friend is so horrible! The best thing to do is talk to her about how you feel. If she won’t talk to you, write her a letter for her to read. Your teacher is right, practice makes perfect, so you have to keep it up. But, tell your best friend that she means a lot to you and that you don’t want to fall out. Tell her how much you love ballet and I’m sure she’ll understand!

TROUBLES audition

words: Pippa Moyle

, GLG DQ DXGLWLRQ ODVW PRQWK WKDW ZHQW UHDOO\ EDGO\ , ZDV UHFRYHULQJ IURP D FKHVW LQIHFWLRQ VR , VWDUWHG FRXJKLQJ KDOIZD\ WKURXJK P\ VRQJ , WKHQ IRUJRW P\ OLQHV DQG WULSSHG RYHU D ZLUH LQ P\ GDQFH URXWLQH , UDQ RXW FU\LQJ DW WKH HQG RI LW , KDYH DQ DXGLWLRQ IRU $OLFH LQ :RQGHUODQG VRRQ , UHDOO\ ZDQW WKH SDUW EXW ,È P UHDOO\ ZRUULHG WKDW ,È OO PHVV XS DJDLQ 6KRXOG , GR WKH DXGLWLRQ" <RX VKRXOG GHˉQLWHO\ DXGLWLRQ IRU $OLFH ,È P VR sorry to hear that your audition left you feeling worried, but even the best performers have bad auditions. It’s so dif ˉFXOW WR VKRZ \RXU RII \RXU VNLOOV when you’re not feeling your best. Just put that experience down to a bad day and look forward to showing off your talent to a new crowd for a new role. Good luck, I’m sure you’ll be brilliant!

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350 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

YOUR LIFE

J-Law takes a tumble at the Oscars.

pish

hee ing s

Feel

words: Caroline Brockelbank

rt of a the pa g n i I was y a pl l play. s o o I was h c s it wa in my ecause it late sheep b d e t exci as a b really art. I w dy dressed p g i b a a ol alre quite t o scho t . If tha e n a m r u t s o so I eep c n into my sh gh I ra u o ing n up in e inge ed say r t r c a t ’t s n was and l and schoo ssroom my cla It was a big oup was es. ear gr my lin t my y ll. Everyone u o d e the ha it turn down e n o crazy… edford the I was t h g 13, B u tho Natalee,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

I was playing Humpty Dumpty in our school play. I was walking onto the stage in my big egg costume. I was halfway through saying one of my lines when I lost my balance and fell off the stage and onto my best friend’s mum on the front row. The audience couldn’t stop laughing and we had to take the interval early! Charlie, 12, Reading

Centre of

attention $W VFKRRO ZH Z HUH GRLQJ RXU ˉ QDO SHUIRUPDQFH for months. One RI D SOD\ ZHȠG of the boys got EHHQ SUDFWLFLQJ muddled up with the next scene. the scenes and So, he plonked thought it was his chair centre scene! He was ba stage but it was ng in the middl ac tually a love e of the two ch moving his chai aracters and inst r back he looked ea d of discreetly up at each of th them… we all bu em nodding an rst out laughing d agreeing with for like 10 minut we could contin es with the audi ue! ence before Lucy, 15, Leices ter

Jack s s tuck in t I had a pa he box

rt as the ja ck-inthe-box in a play whic h was set in a m agic toy sh o p. I had to clim b into this big box and c rouch dow n. On a sound cue I was supp osed to jump up, o pen the bo x , shout “SURPRISE !” and laug h. It ZDV WKH ˉ UVW SHUIRUP DQFH LQ front of an audience. I heard my cue, an d jumped u p BUT someone had locked the box from th e outside so when I jum ped up I s mashed my head a nd I could n’t get out of the box. J a ck , 14, Pe te rb or ou g h.

A toast to remember I was auditioning for the lead role in our school play. After I had said all my lines I had to hold up a glass to the audience as if I were doing a toast. I was so happy I’d remembered my lines that I picked up the glass with too much enthusiast... 7KH JODVV ˊHZ RXW RI P\ hand, skimmed past my teacher’s face and smashed on the ground next to her. Unsurprisingly I didn’t get the part! Jasmyn, 15, Southampton

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51

MONOLOGUES comedic , 1 minute

This month’s boys’ this month is ‘Cold Feet’ by Michaela Jones Mark has had a crush on this girl in his class for a while now, DQG KH ˉQDOO\ WKLQNV LWȠV WLPH KH WHOOV KHU %HIRUH KH GRHV VR KH confronts his friend to ask him for help. There isn’t a big backstory to this monologue, so you have the chance to interpret the character for yourself. Before you start, write down some notes – what do you think Mark is like?

’t. ld but I can u o c I t h g u I tho e? can’t do it, d do it for m n Mark: No I a te a m d e a goo Can’t you b on’t lp here. I d e h r u o y d , I nee erfect me on man n she’s so p a e m I r. e h (Pause) Co y to what to sa ar her. even know time I’m ne y r e v e t e e f I get cold r. g about he in th e m o s ere’s deep n’t know, th when she’s ir a h r e h (Pause)I do h it he’s she plays w les when s g ig g s y a It’s the way lw e a perfect. Sh or how she s i t r h e g h u t o u h t o in ing ab oking ed. Everyth e just by lo c a r t r a e h embarrass my er to make has the pow at me. uch he has so m s w o n k I l o other gir She’s like n ut it’s ǯ she’s cute b , y n n u f ϐ ’s e ’s smart, sh he is which e s h S te . u .. c n a w e o I m know h she’s just esn’t even t… o s d u j e ’s h s e h e s k li ute… her more c just makes perfect. l… st how I fee u j s t’ i y s e ot che I am gh with it, ut up! It’s n u o r h t o g o t (Pause) Sh oing that t I’m just g the worst s t’ a h w n Ok, that’s i a me at. Ok k her out I n handle th a c I ? e going to as m ts ? She rejec can happen luck. t, wish me I’m doing i

ant to convince Imagine that you w u. How would you a friend to help yo ould you stand speak to them? W way? or sit in a certain

Even if you’ve never had a crush, think back to a time when you’ve been nervous to speak to someone. How did it feel? How did your voic e and body language change? Do yo u think Mark would be acting in the same way?

What do you think will happen after this scene? Do you think he really will ask out his crush -­ or will he be too scared?

This monologue is written like a conversation. Who do you think Mark is talking to? Is he teasing Mark about his crush, or is he supportive? Even if Mark’s friend doesn’t appear in the scene, you need to react as if he is. 52 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

TRAINING

of the month Our girls’ monologue is a classic from Alice in Wonderland <RXȠYH SUREDEO\ VHHQ WKH 'LVQH\ FDUWRRQ DQG 7LP %XUWRQȠV TXLUN\ ˉOP remake, but this monologue comes from the original book written back in 1865.

dramat ic, 1 to 2 m inutes

If it’s a story you don’t already know, make sure you google it before you start work on the monologue. The scene takes place just after a mysterious, white rabbit has ran past Alice, shouting that he’s late for an important meeting. She decides to follow him, but accidently falls down the rabbit hole that will lead her to Wonderland – a magical place where nothing is quite as it seems…

Alice is young -­ how will your body language change to show this?

eading -­ Alice loves r she speaks? ow h e g n ha c s will thi How will you show y

our ‘fall’?

[Calling after him] I say, Mr. White Rabbit, where are you going? Hmmm. He won’t answer me. And I do so want to know what he is late for. I wonder if I might follow him. Why not? There’s no rule that I mayn’t go where I please. I-­‐-­‐I will follow him. Wait for me, Mr. White Rabbit. I’m coming, too! [Falling] How curious. I never realized that rabbit holes were so dark . . . and so long . . . and so empty. I ϐ ǡ can’t see the bottom! Hmph! After such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling downstairs. How brave they’ll all think me at home. Why, I wouldn’t say anything about it even if I fell off the top of the house! I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time. I must be getting somewhere near the center of the earth. I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny that would be. Oh, I think I see the bottom. Yes, I’m sure I see the bottom. I shall hit the bottom, hit it very hard, and oh, how it will hurt!

‘Alices’ you’ve piration from other ins e ak t to e fin s It’ t to see what r, the audience wan be em em r ut . B en se somebody else! r best impression of ou y ot n o -­ d an u c yo TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

words: Katie Davies

tting Alice is scared about hi hole -­ the bottom of the rabbit d too by show that you’re scare uder speaking faster and lo -­ but don’t shout!

ALICE: [Angrily] Why, how impolite of him. I asked him a civil question, and he pretended not to hear me. That’s not at all nice.

53

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YOUR LIFE

New clothes can give you a FRQˉGHQFH ERRVW

2.

1.

Music can help you relax.

Have a day off Yes, you deserve it! After all the effort you have put in to achieve your goal, it’s the time for you to put your feet up and worry about nothing else. Play your x-box, read your favourite book or simply laze on the sofa for an entire day. After all, a great rest is what helps you go further.

Treat yourself to a brand QHZ RXWˉW For those of you that have had your eye on that beautiful embellished dress or super cool leather jacket, this is the time for you to invest in a whole new wardrobe! Also it’s a great chance to get yourself some glad rags for your next big audition. Enjoy the fashion show!

celebrating Got selected to play the lead role? Passed the exam to get into your dream theatre school? This is your guide to share the happiness with your family and friends.

5. Throw a theme party Picked to perform in your dream show? Why not invite your friends and family to celebrate with a matching themed party? Just think about all your friends dressed up to the nines in their best costume plus it’s such a great opportunity to get yourself into character.

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Social media showoff Don’t be afraid of sharing the good news with all your followers on Twitter and )DFHERRN 3RVW D KDSS\ VHOˉH and spread the happiness all around. Their congratulations and support will encourage you to work even harder to achieve your dream.

6.

7. Go to your favourite concert Who says pop concerts are nothing like musicals? Let your hair down and head out to see your favourite artists rocking the mic. Dance the night away, enjoying the music you love.

3.

Pizza time? Yes! No alcohol needed in this tasty drink

Make a fancy mocktail This cool, refreshing punch can be made in just two minutes. Sprinkle some sugar onto some mint leaves, add a handful of crushed ice into a tall slimline glass. Squeeze some lime juice over the top, add a straw and top up with soda water. Here’s to your fancy mojito mocktail, ta-daa!

We all know how yum that “junk food� is. After so many long painful walks past Pizzahut or McDonald’s it’s time to give in. Share a pizza with your friends. Just this once, treat yourself to that all too enjoyable, guilty cheat meal. You know you want to.

4.

Even elephant seals love pizza

S S E C your SUC Watch the latest blockbuster in IMAX The occasional cinema treat is always a good idea. But if you still feel bad about spending 12 quid on that fancy IMAX showing, remember one thing: you’re learning acting skills from the very best Hollywood stars! Perfect excuse right there.

9.

Luxury theatre breaks 9LVLWLQJ 7KHDWUHODQG LVQČ W MXVW IRU DGXOWV there are plenty of shows that we’ll enjoy every bit as much as they do. Theatre breaks to see The Lion King, Shrek the 0XVLFDO 6FURRJH RU 0DWLOGD DUH D VXUH ˉUH highlight of any trip whether it’s London, Paris or even New York. Of course, if you’re going to be a part of them it only makes sense to see them before you star!

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words: Lanty Zhang

8.

Check out our page on regional theatres to see more

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hyoavuer say that it’s there. It’s great ut o nt le Ta e ik l to magazine ooking forward l ly al There’s no other re e e’r W s. oung performer specifically for y reading it. Tilly and Sadie, and 15. London, age 13

We love hearing from Talent readers, so make sure you get in touch! Send us your letters, tweets and pictures and we’ll feature the best here or online. Make sure that you have your say either by e-mailing talenteditorial@gmail. com or connecting online on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Talent magazine is a fabulous concept. I wish something like this would have been around when I first started showing an interest in performing. I received lots of advice from other children once I had got into her first show, but it would have been lovely to have had some idea of what I getting into before I started.

Adam, age 15, London.

I think it’s really good for oth er children starting out to be able to see what other you ng performers have been abl e to achieve. If you can see som eone achieve their dreams, the n you can see that it really is possible for you to do it too . Jamie, Leeds, age 12.

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COULD it be It's your chance to shine....

TALENT presents the latest casting list of top shows in the country. Pick your favourite, then prepare yourself with our essential casting guide! CHARLIE Â AND Â THE Â CHOCOLATE Â FACTORY Â CHARLIE BUCKET: Č? \HDU ROG ER\ XQGHU IW LQb$ WDOHQWHG DFWRU ZLWK LQQRFHQW DSSHDUDQFH bOHDQ IUDPH DQG QDWXUDO VLQJLQJ YRLFH VERUCA SALT: Č? \HDU ROG JLUO XQGHU IW LQb$ FKDULVPDWLF DFWUHVV DQG H[FHOOHQW EDOOHW GDQFHUb JUDGH RU DERYH

VIOLET BEAUREGARDE: Č? \HDU ROG JLUO XQGHU IW LQb$ VNLOOHG UDSSHU ZLWK D EUDVK DWWLWXGH b$XGLWLRQHHV PXVW EH DEOH WR GR DQ $PHULFDQ DFFHQW MIKE TEAVEE: Č? \HDU ROG ER\ XQGHU IW LQb$ KLJKO\ SK\VLFDO VWUHHW GDQFHU ZLWK ORWV RI HQHUJ\ b$EOH WR GR DQ $PHULFDQ DFFHQW AUGUSTUS GLOOP: Č? \HDU ROG ER\ XQGHU IWb$ FRUSXOHQW ER\ DQG D JRRG VLQJHU b$EOH WR GR D *HUPDQ DFFHQW Email charlie@jessicaronane.combRU YLVLW charlieandthechocolatefactory.com

Take a trip of pure imagination with Willy Wonka

Billy  Elliot

Leap higher with Billy

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Billy and Michael As part of our ongoing audition process, we look for boys aged 9 to 13 years to audition for the roles of Billy and Michael in the West End. - Tap and ballet experience are a bonus. - Max height 5ft. - No broken voices. Debbie Must be 9 – 12 years of age, under 4ft 8. Some ballet experience. Only auditioning in Newcastle, must be from the NE of England. 3OHDVH FRPH UHDG\ WR GDQFH ˉUVW WKHQ PD\EH VLQJ afterwards, wearing comfortable clothes – no lycra, leotards or jazz pants! Please bring all dance shoes and trainers. Email billy@jessicaronane.com

your bigbreak? INDUSTRY

ENSEMBLE Â ROLES Â

Those auditioning for small boy, tall boy and ballet girls MUST live within an hour of London. Small Boys aged 6 to 10 years no taller than 4ft. Acting role – no singing or dancing required. Tall Boy aged 10 to 12 years no taller than 4ft 10. Acting role – no singing or dancing required. Ballet Girls Girls should be between 9 and 13 years of age, under 5ft and have achieved a minimum of Grade 4 in tap and ballet. Visit www.jessicaronane.comb

MISS  SAIGON  â€“  Prince  Edward  Theatre,   London

A story of romance with Miss Saigon

Auditions ongoing for boys and girls to play the role of Tam. Children should be SE Asian looking (Chinese, Japanese etc) and about 4 or 5 years old. 7KH\ PXVW EH VPDOO DQG FRQˉGHQW EXW WKH\ GR QRW KDYH WR VLQJ GDQFH RU VSHDN b 7KLV UROH LV D ER\ EXW LW LV RIWHQ SOD\HG E\ D JLUO b b Long hair would have to be cut. Email MRDQQH KDZHV #JPDLO FRP

THE  LION  KING  (London  and  Tour) $XGLWLRQV RQ JRLQJ bb FOR TOURING Height limit 4’9 and very dark skinned only. Children for the tour will be considered from all over the UK FOR LONDON Children need to be available to attend cub school RQH QLJKW D ZHHN IRU VL[ PRQWKV b They are cast to be in the show from cub school only. All children to be within an easy commute of London (45 miles approximately) Photo required. 1H[W FDVWLQJ Č? 6HSWHPEHU b Email MRDQQH KDZHV #JPDLO FRP

Roar with Lion King

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Classified Julie Gossage

Singing Teacher and Vocal Coach

To book a lesson, contact Julie by SKRQH WH[W or email: juliegossage@me.com

Bespoke coaching for TV, ÀOP theatre & business Tel: 0207 357 8237 Email: tilly@auditiondoctor.co.uk +44(0)20 7252 4343 contact@alphabetkidz.co.uk For details of classified advertising please visit www.talentmagazine.co.uk 62 TALENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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You might love to dance, but have you ever considered being the driving force behind the scenes? Denise Ranger had been dancing for over 20 years when she moved into teaching and choreography, creating the dance routines for hit musical Tonight’s the Night ready for its UK tour.

How did you start out as a choreographer? “I was a professional dancer, but dancing puts such a physical demand on the body that careers can be quite short, because the body just can’t cope anymore. Most professional dancers stop working in their 30s or 40s. A lot of professional dancers get in to choreography when they can no longer dance themselves because it’s another way of keeping in the industry.”

What do you love about choreography? “I’ve always loved choreography. You give it all you’ve got, no matter how big or small the routine you are choreographing.”

How can I get into the industry? “For anyone who wants to get in to choreography, I’d advise them to try out different styles of dance. Go and see lots of dance styles too to see how each style differs.”

words: Rochelle Barrand

“There isn’t really a set path to follow to get in to choreography. A lot of people start off by assisting professional choreographers and then get asked to stay and help out more.” “Be pro-active. Always ask and see where you can help.”

But what if I can’t dance? “It’s not absolutely necessary for anyone wanting to go in to choreography to learn how to dance themselves, but if you can dance it will help because people who can dance themselves really understand how it works.” “Ballet is the foundation that is needed to learn all other types of dance, because it teaches you all the most important things you need to know – placement, control, breathing, posture. “Anyone who wants to be a choreographer should study ballet.”

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