Aladdin Kids… staged by The Artz Centre ‘Infant Academy’ at Lathom High School, Glenburn Road, Skelmersdale on Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
Written by Jim Briscoe for NODA
OMG… this made a dank, dark Saturday afternoon in November, so much more enjoyable and brighter … honestly, this was ‘pure delight’! When you see twenty-four, five, six and seven-year-olds, some stepping on a stage for the very first time… just giving us their all, whilst obviously having the time of their young lives… it really was a heartwarming experience! Joe Howard (Director) in his programme notes suggests… ‘there’s a tendency to measure success in youth productions by adult standards and look for ‘award-winning’ performances … yet, every performance here, every child stepping onto that stage won a victory for themselves’. This production was far more than the end product … it was about the courage it takes to turn up every week, even for children at Key Stage 1 and commit to learning the fundamental skills of theatre … ‘teamwork’, ‘responsibility’ and ‘resilience’ … totally agree Joe! I speak and I have spoken to many older youth groups (seventeen /eighteen/nineteen-year-olds), many of whom have been performing on stage for many years… my message to them is always … ‘The arts and theatre offer far more than just being on stage, they offer / create / promote ‘life skills’ (such as team work, self-esteem, communication skills, relationships … the list is endless), skills that become attributes which you can and will be used throughout the rest of your life! I tell them to grab every opportunity they can with both hands … they will enhance your future!
Production Team … Joe Howard (Director), Mark Ashton (Producer), Ben Chane, Kiki Waite, Maddie Finegan, Maeve Bahan and Jessica Jordan (Peer Mentors). Expanding on some of Joe’s words, for me, ‘the success of this production wasn’t the end result that afternoon… the success of this production were the opportunities offered and taken by these young people, the smiles, the energy, the enthusiasm and the pleasure emanated from that stage which was infectious, the success will come to the fore in years to come!
I haven’t a clue why… but, whilst writing this review the lyrics to ‘Seasons of Love’ from ‘Rent’ just popped into my head…
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure what performing in that production will mean to this young group!
I’m not sure we’ll know the answers to that for a while but what I can assure you is that there’ll be an immediate effect in their confidence, their ability to communicate, their self-esteem and it will also make them immediately aware of the benefits of ‘teamwork’, making friends, friends they may well have for the rest of their lives! How will it directly affect their futures … we’ll have to wait and see, but the opportunities will be endless!
The Cast… let’s start by mentioning those performing on stage… Toby Jones who played our lead – ‘Aladdin’, Emilia Stott– ‘Abu’, Harrison Holland – ‘Genie’, Lola Hanson – ‘Sultan’, Caitlin Treanor – ‘Iago’ (Tess Winstanley shared this part with Caitlin), Grace Carey – ‘Jafar’, Isla Beeley played ‘Jasmine’ (Felicity McNamara shared this role with Isla), Olive Morton– ‘Lamp Vendor’, Ellie Rigby – ‘Bread Vendor’, Rosie Fowler – ‘Fruit Vendor’, Joseph Dennett played Prince Abdullah (Mabel Baxter shared this role with Joseph), Annie Pyper-Mann – ‘Prince Hasim’, Edward Slowey played ‘Prince Malik’ (Brooke Trafford shared this role with Edward) Elizabeth Bajkowski – Cave Guardian, Paige Smith – Avis. ENSEMBLEincluded Bea Swindells, Teddy Bond, Elsie Dean-stevens, Sage Lea and Leah Williams. I usually stick my neck out here and identify MY ‘showstealer’, but for me, the success of this production was down to the ‘whole’ and not an individual … but having said that, I think it would be remiss of me not to give a few ‘shout outs’ to MY ‘FAB FOUR’… so, as they say on TV … “in no particular order” … MY first choice goes to our lead Toby Jones and his portrayal of Aladdin. OMG Toby gave us everything and more from the moment he stepped on stage… he was like a ‘Duracell Bunny’ he just never stopped. Took this iconic character and just made it his own. Be proud Toby! Grace Carey did a fabulous job as the ‘nasty pasty vizier’ … ‘Jafar’. Grace did a super job with this role, blessed with great diction, a lovely singing voice, she kept in character throughout, well done Grace! Isla Beeley provided us with a lovely character in the form of ‘Princess Jasmine’. Bright and bubbly throughout another with a lovely voice… be proud Isla. Final one of MY ‘Fab Four’ was a young lady who didn’t have a ‘named role’ but was a member of the fabulous chorus that supported the ‘principals’ throughout … her name was Elsie Dean-Stevens. Why Elsie I hear people ask? Well, Elsie epitomized everything that I believe ‘amateur theatre’ is all about … it was all about having fun, whilst having the time of her young life! From start to finish Elsie just had the biggest smile on her face … not sure if this should have happened, but she was front and centre in every scene, giving it loads … enjoyment personified! Be ever so proud Elsie, just wish I was your age again! Well done everyone … this production made an ‘old man’ very happy and very proud to be your NODA REP!
Staging/Tech… very, very basic … but which functioned really well, offering these young actors everything they needed and more to deliver this simplistic, yet effective performance.
Costumes were amazing and enhanced the production so well.
Props… again, simple, basic yet effective! Loved the ‘magic carpet’… I’ve seen the ‘flying carpet’ done in so many ways, but this was simplicity itself! Picture a number of ‘peer mentors’ holding and supporting a piece of carpet with strings attached to the corners’ … add lighting … the carpet moved / fly – simple/effective … genius … well done inventor(s)! PS I also enjoyed the ‘Genie’ arriving first time on stage … simple/effective/brought a few ‘titters’ from the audience ahahahahaha!
PEER MENTORS … just wanted to make special mention of these five young people, all actors that I’ve seen recently doing Artz Centres ‘Showcase’ for their exams… Ben Chane, Kiki Waite, Maddie Finegan, Maeve Bahan and Jessica Jordan. It’s truly inspiring to see ‘young adults’ giving up their time to support, encourage and assist another youngster. Their roles in this production were purely supportive/ whilst assisting and encouraging these really young actors and what a great job they did. Be ever so proud guys, great job!
CHAPERONES … I always ask …. where would Youth Theatre be without these ‘selfless people’, who give of their time freely and go out of their way to ensure that our young people have the opportunity to perform in a safe and secure environment. So its thank you so much to Charlotte Halton, Gaynor Bahan, Kirsty Rigby, Heather Bond, Tanya Winstanley, Richie Prunetti and Dawn Morley … be ever so proud folks… without you and your commitment to these young people, this amazing production would never have reached the stage!
Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I to your production, we thoroughly enjoyed it…. hope to see you all again soon.
Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’
Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep