Arts
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Henley
Performing Arts: News
DRAMA STUDENTS PREPARE POWERFUL POLITICAL DRAMA
STUDENTS FILM SCENES FOR ARTS EDUCATIONAL FILM PROJECT
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION
STUDENTS PERFORM AT STOKE MANDEVILLE HOSPITAL
HENLEY STUDENTS 'GOT TO DANCE'
EX-BTEC STUDENT HAS ‘THE X-FACTOR'
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - THE TOUR
EVENING OF BRECHT
TICKETS ON SALE FOR DANCE SHOW 2011
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE 'A LEVEL' WORK
GREASE IS THE WORD AT HENLEY COLLEGE
ANTIGONE PRODUCTION BIG SUCCESS
TICKETS ON SALE FOR COLLEGE PRODUCTION
LEVEL 3 STUDENTS VISIT DISNEYLAND
ENRICHMENT PRODUCTION: TICKETS ON SALE NOW
MORE SUCCESS FOR COLLEGE DIRECTOR
AUDITIONS FOR CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION IN SPAIN BIG SUCCESS
HENLEY STUDENTS JUST DON’T STOP BELIEVING
FIRST DIPLOMA COURSE ENDS WITH SHAKESPEARE PLAY
THE WEDDING OF THE YEAR
BND YEAR ONE PRODUCTION OPENS AT NORDEN FARM
STUDENTS HELP WITH EX-JERSEY BOYS' FILM
STUDENTS WORK WITH HOLLYWOOD ACTOR
EX-STUDENT BECOMES WEST END LEADING LADY
NEXT PRODUCTION ANNOUNCED
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DRAMA STUDENTS PREPARE POWERFUL POLITICAL DRAMA
With Meryl Streep’s Oscar nominated turn as Margaret Thatcher currently all over the media, the L3 Diploma Performing Arts students are turning their attention to quite a different portrayal of the ex-PM.
Steven Berkoff’s biting satire “Sink The Belgrano” was written in 1986 and focuses on the controversial decision Thatcher took to torpedo the Argentinian battle ship The Belgrano. Berkoff’s play is quite rightly regarded as one of the foremost pieces of political theatre to come out of the eighties and with the Falkland Islands also currently back in the news the time to revive it has never been better.
Says director Neil McCurley, “As part of our research process we decided to take a cast trip to see ‘The Iron Lady’. It’s strange to think that the cast are of an age that they were all born after Thatcher left office and to them she’s part of British history already. It’s been fascinating looking at her and her policies through their eyes and hopefully they’ll bring a fresh insight to this controversial moment in her career.”
The play runs from 7 – 10 March at Norden Farm for the Arts, Maidenhead. Tickets will be on sale soon.
January 2012
STUDENTS FILM SCENES FOR ARTS EDUCATIONAL FILM PROJECT
Thirty five Level 3 vocational Performing Arts students and their lecturer filmed scenes on Thursday for a film project in association with top London drama school, Arts Educational.
In the third year of the course at Arts Ed, acting students get the chance to work with a professional director and a film crew to make a film project to prepare them for working in the industry. This year’s film project was titled “I Do” and was directed by Michael Bray. The film centred around a wedding and scenes were filmed both in London and locally to Henley. The leading actress – and third year Arts Ed student – was Amy Horton. Before Arts Ed Amy studied at Henley on the Level 3 BTEC Performing Arts course and when the film required a church full of extras she knew who to call.
Says Nic Saunders, “It was great that Amy rang and we were happy to help. Not only to help out Arts Ed which is an institution many of our students aspire to go to, but also to let our students have a day on a professional film set. It was really good for them to see how a set operates and to work with a director as experienced and respected as Michael. The College is always trying to find new and exciting experiences for our students to prepare them for what they all want to do after they leave us and this was a really rewarding day and I think everyone had a good time.”
November 2011
Tickets now on sale for Christmas Production
With a month to go, tickets are now on sale for the College’s Christmas production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s controversial rock-opera is now a staple of Musical Theatre and the College are delighted to be performing it in December. The cast is drawn from across the College and promises to be a spectacular show. Adding to the appeal this year is the decision to stage the production in the most apt of settings, a church. The production takes place 7 – 10 December in St Andrews Church, Caversham.
Tickets are priced at £8.00 / £7.00 (concessions) and are available from Deanfield Reception, over the phone on 01491 579988 and also from Little Nellies Sweet Shop, Friday Street, Henley.
For a map to the church, please click HERE
Says director Nic Saunders, “The students have been rehearsing really hard for the show, as actors, singers, dancers and musicians and although time is tight to mount such a big show, I’m really optimistic we’ll do it and I hope audiences will support it. I appreciate that getting to Caversham isn’t easy for everyone, but it will be worth the effort as seeing this particular story told in a church setting really promises to add something special. If people can drag themselves away from X-Factor and Strictly for one night, I think they’ll appreciate what a great night out a live show like this can be.”
Students perform at Stoke Mandeville Hospital
Performing Arts students from Henley College have performed in some unusual venues over the years, including amphitheatres in Greece, beaches in Cornwall and castle ruins in Spain, but Halloween saw them performing, for the first time, in a hospital ward.
The Performing Arts department was invited to take part in a Halloween Cabaret at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury for patients of the spinal care unit. The College is currently in rehearsal for “Jesus Christ Superstar” which will be performed at St Andrews Church, Caversham in December, so three cast members and director Nic Saunders were delighted to accept.
l to r -Josie White (Mary Magdalene), Oliver Dench (Jesus) and Hannah Mullan (Judas)
The students performed a medley of three songs from the musical, alongside students from the The Kercher School of Dance, Musical Kidz Theatre School, Italia Conti and professional West End performers from “Oliver”, “Sound of Music” and “Calamity Jane”.
The event was obviously meant to raise both spirits and funds for the spinal unit and was originally intended to also mark the 85th birthday of the unit patron and special guest, Sir Jimmy Saville.
Unfortunately, Jimmy Saville died the weekend prior to the event and the occasion was therefore overshadowed by the tragic news. Staff from the Hospital and close friends of Sir Jimmy attended the event and gave heartfelt tributes.
Said Nic Saunders, “We were delighted to be involved and to perform for the spinal unit staff and patients. It was, however, an evening of both joy and sorrow as the event had originally been planned to coincide with Jimmy Saville’s 85th birthday and birthday banners and cakes had been left on display.
Although I never met or know Jimmy Saville, from what we heard on the night from his friends and colleagues I am sure he would have approved of the evening going ahead and the ward being full of music and dance as his life had been devoted to bringing joy and laughter to so many people.”
October 2011
Henley students 'Got to dance’
Students in the shadow of Battersea Power Station
A group of dance students from the College visited Battersea Power Station last weekend to film scenes for SKY TV’s “Got To Dance” show.
The students had already been selected from thousands of hopefuls to perform their dance piece in front of the panel of judges, comprising West End performer Adam Garcia, Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt and Diversity choreographer and dancer Ashley Banjo.
Students rehearse their dance in the warm up area
The students performed a piece of contemporary dance that had been created especially for the show by dance teacher Tara Ward. The students then performed the piece for the cameras and a live studio audience.
Unfortunately the judges decided the piece would not progress any further, but had nothing but praise for the group. Kimberley Wyatt, in particular, praised the choreography and Ashley
Banjo encouraged the students to keep going and comments that he’d not be surprised if they were working in the industry a few years from now.
Said Tara Ward, “It was a great experience for the students to dance in front of professionals like these and get some positive feedback. Far from being discouraged by not moving forward in the competition, we feel the judges made some excellent points and we can all learn from their advice.”
The show airs screen on Sky TV in December.
September 2011
Ex-BTEC Student has ‘The X Factor
The reason students choose to study the vocational BTEC courses at Henley is to further their desire to work professionally as performers. It is always satisfying when an ex-student is spotted on the West End stage or on television – and fortunately this happens with some regularity.
One such ex-student was Coralie Norman who, now working under the stage name of Coralie Jo, was one of the auditionees on this week’s X Factor. Coralie studied the Level 3 diploma in Performing Arts when at Henley and was featured heavily on the programme making it through all of the audition rounds to boot camp. She then progressed through the first round of boot camp and was chosen by the judges to be part of an all new girl band. Unfortunately she did not make it through to the Judge’s House round and won’t progress further in this year’s competition.
However, it is a massive achievement to have gotten this far in the competition and reflects both Coralie’s ability as a performer and her tenacity to succeed. The College wishes her all the best in what comes next and is sure this won’t be the last we see of her.
Watch extracts of Coralie’s time on the X Factor here.
September 2011
Jesus Christ Superstar - The Tour
The Level 3 Extended Diploma students are finishing their two year course in style – with a production of the musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.
Written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show tells the story of the last three days of Jesus’ life. Without doubt one of the most popular musicals of all time, the show was also responsible for launching a new type of musical – the rock opera. With songs such as “Gethsemane”, “Heaven on their Minds” and “I don’t know how to love him” JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR has the power to amaze, to entertain and to move.
Says director Neil McCurley, “It’s a wonderful musical and a real privilege to be working on with the students. There’s no doubting the power of the material and staging it requires a real ensemble spirit. It’s a definite challenge and it’s been a long time since the Level 3 students produced a musical as part of their course, but I’m certain we’ll rise to it and produce something we can all be proud of”.
Henley audiences will get a chance to see the production when it is performed locally on the 2nd July, but before that it will be playing church venues in Cornwall from the 27th June. There are some who believe that Jesus visited Britain in his lifetime and biblical scholars suggest if he did then Cornwall is the most likely location.
TOUR DATES
27th June - St Just-in-Roseland and St Mawes Parish Church, St Mawes, TR2 5BD Click for map..
28th June - Riverside United Church, Looe, PL13 2BU Click for map..
30th June - Falmouth Methodist Church, Falmouth, TR11 2BU Click for map..
2nd July - All Saints Church, Maidenhead, SL6 4HE Click for map..
The performances start at 7.30pm and tickets are £5.00 (with £4.00 off ticket price going to church venue)
July 2011
Evening of Brecht
The Level 3 students end the year first of their course with An Evening of Brecht.
The evening will consist of two short plays each devised by the students based on the theatrical ideas of Bertolt Brecht. The first – The Chain - deals with the dark side of the adult entertainment business and the second – Perfecting Parents - deals with the question of whether everyone is suited to parenthood. Says Nic Saunders, “Brecht was a very confrontational and political practitioner and these pieces pose some challenging views and opinions. They may be short pieces, but they both have a lot to say and pack a real punch.”
The performances take place in the College Theatre Studio on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th June. The doors open at 7.20pm and tickets are available on the door priced £2.00.
The evening is a perfect introduction to Brecht for A Level Theatre Studies students or students who are thinking of studying the Level 3 course at Henley.
June 2011
Tickets on sale for Dance Show 2011
The annual Dance show is an opportunity for all dance students studying at the College to showcase their dance skills.
The performances are Tues 24 – Thurs 26 May in the College’s own Dance Studio. Tickets are £4 / £3 and available from the normal outlets. Doors open at 7.15pm.
Says Tara Ward, “The dance show is a great chance to see the variety of dance work the College produces from group to solo pieces. It involves A Level and vocational students and for potential students is a real opportunity to see the standard our students achieve.”
May 2011
Opportunity to see 'A Level' work
The vocational students regularly produce performance work, but the A/S Drama and Theatre Studies only produce work once a year as part of their course that the public can come and see. 
This year the students are staging extracts from “The Laramie Project”. The powerful play tells the story of the murder of gay student Matthew Shepard.
Staged in the College’s own Studio Theatre, there will be three evening performances – 22nd, 24th and 29th March. Each evening will be a different groups interpretation of the piece, so each night will be unique. Tickets will be £3.00 and will be available on the door only.
Says Nic Saunders, “The students are doing some great work, so it would be really nice if the evenings were well supported. The vocational students may have the reputation as the performers at the College, but that’s not entirely true and there will be some very strong performances given by the A Level students over these nights. I’m very optimistic that audiences will be very impressed with the standard of the acting they will see.”
March 2011
Grease is the word at Henley College
Vocational students were treated to a workshop with actor Bennett Andrews last week.
Bennett currently plays the role of T-Bird Sonny in “Grease” at The Piccadilly Theatre, London. He taught the students a dance from the show and answered their questions about working in the West End.
Coincidentally Bennett’s co-star in the show is Susannah Allman who plays Patty. Susannah studied BTEC Performing Arts at the Henley College which goes to prove what a small world the industry really is!
Says Nic Saunders, “It was great that Bennett came into College to work with the students. They really appreciated him giving up his time to teach them a routine from the show and it’s great experience to meet and talk with West End professionals.”
Antigone Production Big Success
The Year one Level 3 Extended Diploma production of ANTIGONE was a big success playing to almost full houses every night.
Says director Nic Saunders, “I was very pleased with the work of the cast and feel that we produced something that was exciting and dynamic. The audience feedback has been great and it was a satisfying outcome of a lot of hard work. I look forward to working with this group of students on their Brecht pieces in the Summer term.”
The Henley Standard concluded their review of the production by calling it “an intelligent, thought provoking and polished piece of theatre”. The full review and gallery of images can be found in the Past Productions section.
March 2011
Tickets on sale for College Production
Next month will see a dynamic new production of the classic Greek tragedy “Antigone” performed at the College.
Performing in the College’s own D4 Studio Theatre for the first time in several years, The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company will be performing their own take on the classical Greek text. Telling the story of a young girl, Antigone, who defies her uncle Creon’s decree that her brothers body should remain unburied, the play is without doubt one of the most influential of all time. The play is also a set text for A Level Theatre Studies students. 
Says Nic Saunders, “The College presented a production of ‘Antigone’ some years ago, but it’s been really exciting revisiting it and working out ways to stage it in an entirely different way. The idea has been to take elements of traditional Greek drama, but to tell the story in a way that modern audiences will find exciting and captivating. The central themes of the play are as relevant today as they ever were and we’re hoping we can get an audience to connect with that”.
The play runs from Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 March. Tickets are £7 / £6 (concs) and are now on sale from Deanfield Reception and over the phone on (01491) 579988.
There is a Q&A with the director and cast after the Wednesday and Thursday performances at no extra cost.
February 2011
Level 3 students visit DisneyLand
Students from the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts visited DisneyLand, Paris for three days last month.
The purpose of the trip is to gain an insight into how one of the World's largest performing arts companies work and students get to meet Disney staff and attend educational seminars. Said Nic Saunders, "It's a great trip and students have left Henley to work for Disney. It's also a great bonding experience riding a roller coaster together - you certainly get to know your students well when you're upside down at 100mph!"
January 2011
Enrichment Production: Tickets on sale now
Rehearsals are well underway for this year’s Christmas production of Ben Elton’s comedy “Gasping”.
As one would expect from the co-creator of “Blackadder” and “The Young Ones” it’s a fairly bawdy look at a contemporary social issue. Apparently the idea came to Elton when he was staring at an overpriced bottle of Evian on a train station and he thought to himself ‘what would my dad think if he knew I paid for water?’ That thought led him to write the play about the privatisation of air.
Director Nic Saunders comments, “The great thing about the play is the fact that it’s laugh out loud funny whilst also making some serious political points. The cast are working hard to ensure the production strikes that balance of being preachy whilst funny. We’ve had lots of laughs in the rehearsals, but are feeling the time slipping away now that the tickets are on sale.
Performances are from Tuesday 7th - Saturday 11th December 2010 with a Matinee on Saturday at 2:30 pm.
Tickets are available from Deanfield Reception, over the phone on 01491 579988 and from Little Nellie’s Sweet Shop in the town centre.
November 2010
More success for College Director
Nic Saunders, Head of Performing Arts at the College, was rewarded with two awards from the Los Angeles Reel Film Festival for his short film “Curses and Sermons” this week.
Nic directed the short film a couple of years ago and it has been quietly making a name for itself at film festivals around the world, including winning awards at San Francisco and screening at Cannes. Says Nic, “It’s great to win a couple more awards for the film and I’m pleased that students can see their teachers still have strong links with the profession.” Nic is currently hard at work on his second film which he hopes will emulate and better the success of the first.
October 2010
Auditions for Christmas Production
With students only just returning or joining the College, the drama department has already held its auditions for the Christmas production. Over 70 students auditioned to be part of “Gasping” by Ben Elton. Best known as the writer of the BBC comedies “The Young Ones” and “Blackadder”, Ben Elton is now an established playwright and has achieved international acclaim with his work, which includes the play “Popcorn” and the musical “We Will Rock You”. “Gasping” is a satirical look at the world of high finance, consumer culture and yuppies – very topical.
Students were required to prepare a 90 second monologue for the audition and rehearsals will soon be underway. “The standard was, as ever, very high” says Head of Performing Arts Nic Saunders, “and I was delighted with the number of students who auditioned – I think we have a strong cast and look forward to starting work”.
The production will open on the 8th December and run for five performances. Tickets will go on sale in early November from the usual places.
September 2010
Production in Spain big success
The BTEC students received a very positive reception when they took their production of Lorca’s “Blood Wedding” to the Tossa De Mar Festival of Music and Theatre.
The students performed on the newly built beach stage against the stunning backdrop of the Medieval castle. The first performance drew over a hundred people and the second night almost the same. Local reaction was very positive and students had a wonderful time taking part. “Rehearsing in the heat was difficult, but the result was worthwhile”, says director Nic Saunders, “and it’s an honour for the College to be involved”. Besides performing, students also had time to visit Barcelona and soak in a bit of Spanish culture.
August 2010
Henley Students just Don't Stop Believing
Two current Henley College Performing Arts students – Anastasia Budziszewski (BND Performing Arts) and Katie Dale (A2 Theatre Studies) – and one ex-student – Jessica Niles (BND Performing Arts) – were part of an all singing, all dancing group that reached the final of Channel 5’s “Don’t Stop Believing”.
Live in the studio. Anastasia is third from left and Katie is fifth
Part X Factor, part Glee, “Don’t Stop Believing” was fronted by ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton and was Channel 5’s attempt to find the next big Musical Theatre stars.
Ani, Katie and Jess all belong to the Song Time Theatre Arts Group and rehearse every week on a Thursday. Finding time to be part of Songtimers alongside their studies is challenging, but all three are determined to do what it takes to break into the competitive work of Musical Theatre. Ani said, “It was amazing – the first time we saw the lights and everthing was on the actual day of recording. I’ve been with Song Time for 10 years and it was awesome to be part of this”. When asked about reaching the final Ani said, “We rehearsed so hard, everyday for 9 weeks, ten to nine most days, but we didn’t expect to win and it didn’t matter that we didn’t. We made it to the Live Final and were in the last 6 out of 3000!”
The SongTimers. Anastasia is second from the left,
Jess centre front
and Katie first from the right
The College is very proud of all three of them and is sure this won’t be their only taste of the bright lights.
(July, 2010)
First Diploma Course ends with Shakespeare Play
Last week saw the BTEC National Diploma students end their 2 year course with a very well received production of Lorca’s “Blood Wedding”.
Next week the First Diploma students end their course with their production, a version of “A Midsummer Nights Dream”.
Says director Neil McCurley, “Shakespeare might initially seem a bit daunting for level 2 students, but they’ve really risen to the challenge and they’ve been great to work with. We’re actually working from a modern translation, so issues such as the language haven’t been a problem, but our version still deals with all the same themes and issues as the original text and, of course, features all the same characters and situations. We’ve worked hard to stage it in a slightly different way than the students have been used to using the studio space and we’ve really tried to make it fun and entertaining. Basically, we want our audience to have a great night out and hopefully see how far our level 2 students have developed over their course, many of whom are progressing next year onto the National Diploma”.
The production opens on Tues 29th June and runs until Fri 2nd July in the College’s Theatre Studio. The production starts at 7.30 and lasts approx 90 minutes, including an interval.
Tickets are £6/£5 and are available from Deanfield Reception, over the phone on 01491 579988 and on the door. Tickets are available now.
(June 2010)
Tickets - or rather invitations - for the last Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company production of the year are now on sale.
The graduation production from BTEC National Students is normally staged at Norden Farm Arts Centre in Maidenhead, but this year the students have chosen the setting of the front lawn of Rotherfield Hall as their venue.
The production is a new version of a play many herald as one of the classics of modern theatre, Blood Wedding by Lorca. This version is inspired by Lorca's original is and not a conventional restaging of it. In fact, much of the dialogue is entirely new and the story promises a few twists and turns that will take those already familiar with the play by surprise.
"Lorca's play is a classic" says director Nic Saunders, "and we're trying to take the essence of his work, but trying to create something more than just a play, we're trying to create an experience for the audience. We're staging the story as a wedding in real time and we want the audience to really participate. The tickets are actually invitations, we want the audience to come dressed in their best suits and dresses and we'll be serving champagne throughout. We want to create an immersive, interactive theatrical event that really absorbs people - so, we'll be involving the audience in the wedding pictures, in the cutting of the cake and other pivotal moments of the story. Hopefully, it will be a really exciting and dynamic event."
The production opens on Wednesday 16 June and runs until Saturday 19th. Tickets are available from Deanfield reception or from 01491 579988. Tickets are strictly limited to 60 a night and will sell out very quickly, so don't hesitate if you want to be part of what promises to be an innovative and memorable night out.
BND Year One Production opens at Norden Farm
“Our Country’s Good” is being performed by the BND Year One students at Norden Farm Arts Centre all this week.
The show opens on Thursday 18th and runs until Sunday 21st March.
Says director Neil McCurley, “It’s a tough show and has presented some real challenges to the young cast, but we’ve been rehearsing every hour to be ready and I’m confident we’ll be presenting our audiences with a thought provoking and dynamic piece of theatre”.
Tickets are available from www.nordenfarm.org
The Henley College has a strong relationship with the West End hit show “Jersey Boys” – Frankie Valli (alternate) was played by ex- BTEC student Scott Monello and Four Season Nick Massi was originally played by actor Philip Bulcock, who was directed by the College’s Head of Performing Arts Nic Saunders in a film project in 2009. So when Philip needed some voice recording for a film he is currently working on where else but to Henley could he turn!
Actor Philip Bulcock, who has also directed the film, came to the College last week and recorded a group of female students screaming. In the piece, these screams will be used over a scene in which fans go crazy outside a hotel window when their idols, a Four Seasons style group, appear.
Says Nic Saunders, “It was a great experience for the students to do something a little bit different and it gives them an insight into how the industry works. When they see the film they’ll hear themselves, but coming from the mouths of professional actresses – it will be a strange experience, I’m sure. We’re very grateful that Phil would think of Henley when he needed the help and we’re more than happy to give it.”
STUDENTS WORK WITH HOLLYWOOD ACTOR
A group of Performing Arts students spent their February half term in College participating in a week long intensive course of Acting workshops.
The lucky group of students spent the week working with American actor Kirk Baltz. Kirk’s work developed the Acting work the students have done as part of their college courses and then pushed it in new directions. Kirk’s work is based primarily on the ideas of practitioners Sanford Meisner and Sandra Seacat and his focus is on the ways in which actors can develop characterisation through accessing, understanding and employing their own emotions and life experience. It is very personal, intimate work and the students had a very challenging week, but they all agreed that it was “the experience of a lifetime”.
The College was very fortunate that Mr Baltz agreed to come over from Los Angeles for the week. Internationally renowned as an Acting Coach, Kirk is also a working actor and has appeared in films such as “Dances With Wolves” and “Natural Born Killers” and TV shows such as “Will and Grace” and “24”. Kirk is probably best known for the role of Officer Marvin Nash in Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs”.
“It was really great that Kirk would consider working with our students – I have no doubt that we will see the benefits of his work in all their performance work from now on. It wasn’t an easy week and Kirk took them to some difficult emotional places, but the students gave their all and responded really well. It was great for them to work with a professional actor for a long period of time and it’s given them a taste of what to expect if they continue their training after Henley”, says
Nic Saunders
Click to play video >>
(February 2010)
EX-STUDENT BECOMES WEST END LEADING LADY
Susie Allman graduated from the BTEC National Diploma Performing Arts course in 2002 and went to study the dance at The Urdang Academy.
Since graduating Susie has spent time in Guildford in productions of “Sweeney Todd” and “Godspell” and toured the UK in a production of “Cinderella”. Susie recently starred opposite Celebrity Big Brother winner Alex Reid in independent British gangster feature film “Killer Bitch”. Susie has also carved out a niche for herself as a model and was the face of FHM’s Dance Workout video – a clip from which can be found at:- http://www.floorfillersmusic.com/cd/floorfillersmusic/fhm/susie.shtml
Starring opposite Toby Anstis and Siobahn Dillon, Susie can be now found nightly at The Piccadilly Theatre in her first West End role as Parry Simcox in “Grease”.
The College congratulates Susie on landing the part and wishes her all the best. It is always very encouraging to current students to see people working in the profession who started their training at Henley. (January 2010)
The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company have announced that their first production of 2010 will be “Our Country’s Good” by Timberlake Wertenbaker.
“Our Country's Good” is the story of convicts and Royal Marines sent to Australia in the late 1780s as part of the first penal colony there. It follows Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark's attempts to put on a production of George Farquhar's restoration comedy The Recruiting Officer with a cast of male and female convicts. The play shows the class system in the convict camp and discusses themes such as sexuality, punishment, the Georgian judicial system, and the idea that art can act as an ennobling force.
Says director Neil McCurley, “It’s a terrific play with lots of interesting staging possibilities and I’m keen to see what myself and the students can bring to the piece.”
The play will be performed at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead from 18 – 21 March. Tickets will go on sale in February. (January 2010)
