WEST END DEBUT FOR LOCAL THEATRE GROUP

The Burton Mail - 24th May 2008

 

A THEATRE company is preparing frantically for a dream debut performance in London's West End.

Utopian Artists Ltd, formed by Willington's Robert Scott and Swadlincote's Luci Fitzpatrick, will be taking Moonlit Sky to the capital on July 27. The company will be performing at London's Her Majesty's theatre at the behest of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group. The play tells the story of a man 'paralysed with grief' over the death of his parents and his road to recovery. The audience can hear his troubles - but other characters cannot.

Mr Scott, who co-formed The Real Music Club in Willington, is financing the play from his life savings. The 24-year-old director is hoping to recover the costs from ticket sales, sponsorship, advertising space in the programme and patronage. Around 30 actors and actresses aged 16 to 24 from the Burton, Derby, Swadlincote and Tamworth areas will be taking part.

Already three full coaches have been booked to travel from Burton to London - and organisers are hoping many more will join the party. Mr Scott, a special needs teaching assistant at Willington Primary School, believes the performance could lead to a host of opportunities. "It could be a massive step for us," he told The Mail. "A couple of influential people are coming to see it and hopefully we will come back with a bigger following.

"The preparations have gone to plan so far. There is so much to think about. At the moment I think everyone is feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement." The London play has come as a massive boost for the partners, who met after The Mail publicised Mr Scott's musical production Dolterris in November, 2006. Luci was one of the first to audition - and the pair found an "instant connection".

Calls have now been made for people and businesses in and around Burton to help the company make the big time. Mr Scott's father, Rob Henry, 50, of Tailby Drive, Willington, will be travelling to London on the big day with wife Debbie. He said: "It is very frightening but very exciting at the same time. It is a massive opportunity, not just for him, but lots of other youngsters as well, who come from Tamworth, Stoke, but mainly Burton. We don't know what will happen when we get down there - it might be something amazing, it might not. If more things come from it then it will be fantastic. If not, it will still have been an incredible experience. We want as many people to get excited about what they are doing as possible. The more people who get behind them, the more chance they have of going far. There is so much acting talent at the moment in the Burton area. They are hopefully going to take London by storm."

BACK