Stage school dream is boosted

ENTERPRISING students have combined their considerable talents to put on a variety show that they hope will help to send their classmates to national performing arts schools.

ENTERPRISING students have combined their considerable talents to put on a variety show that they hope will help to send their classmates to national performing arts schools.

Thirteen teenagers from Lowestoft, Caister, Belton and Great Yarmouth have joined forces to organise Raise It! - a fund-raising night of entertainment designed to help four of them fulfil their stage dreams.

Lowestoft sixth form students Charlotte Trotter, Jemma Anderson and Dan Walker, and East Norfolk sixth form college student Josh Parry, are all hoping to attend performing arts schools.

But with fees approaching �10,000-a-year for the three-year courses, plus living costs, and no student loans or accommodation, they need the help of others to realise their ambitions.

Jemma, 18, has obtained a place on a foundation course at KSA, in London; Josh, 19, has secured a three year course in acting at East 15 Acting School in Essex, and Dan has a place on a foundation course at East 15 and a summer placement at the National Youth Theatre.

Charlotte, 18, was offered a place at Performers College, in Essex, and Millennium Performing Arts, in London, but after being unable to afford to go this year, she hopes to re-audition next year.

To help raise money and awareness they decided to put on a show to showcase their talents and have been joined by their friends Katie Smith, Devon Mills, Emma Cullen, Reece Ayres, Chris Challis and Amy Vallely from Lowestoft sixth form, Sophie Porter and Hannah Hart from East Norfolk sixth form college, and Leon Langdale from Great Yarmouth College.

'It is a variety show, showcasing what all the students can do including dancing, singing, acting and musical theatre, involving group pieces and solos,' said Charlotte.

'We know this show won't raise much money compared to the amount that is needed to fulfil the dreams of the students, but we hope that it will raise awareness of what we are trying to do. If we had a full house for both performances we would raise about �1,000 just on tickets. But we are also hoping to sell programmes and any donations would be greatly received.'

Raise It! will be performed at the Seagull Theatre, in Pakefield, on Wednesday at 8pm and The Fisher Theatre, in Bungay, on July 20 at 7.30pm. Tickets are �7 for adults, �6 children and OAPs.