Thanks once again go to All Edinburgh Theatre’s always excellent and well researched reviews…
you can read the full review here
Forth Children’s Theatre
Nice Piece by Thom Dibdin in AE Theatre
Read the full piece here…
Hairspray flyer
Thanks to Kevin Woollard here’s the Hairspray ticket order flyer with all the details you need.
We have a smaller capacity venue than usual, a large cast and a popular show so we expect performances to sell out so please get your orders in early. The easiest way to do this is by calling the ticket hotline or, better still asking a cast member.
2014 Shows
We’re delighted to announce that we have two blockbusters lined up for 2014.
From 9 – 12 April Ronan Radin will direct Hairspray at Edinburgh Academy with assistance from Andrew McDivvit (MD) and Katie Renton (Choreography). Clare Saunders and Dan Gilmore will be assisting on musical coaching , Jack Nixon is assisting Katie Renton on choreography with ‘Jimmy’ assisting Ronan.
Auditions were held on Sunday 15th December f at Trinity Academicals Rugby Football Club and a cast of 43 was selected. Our biggest for some time.
In August (more details later) Claire Stewart (supported by Kerry Anne Rae (MD) and Lynne Moyes (Choreo) will present our biggest ever show. Les Miserables (at Inverleith Church Hall)
To say we are excited about these two highly contrasting shows would be something of an understatement!
Dan Glover’s amazing medley
With Gus Harrower, Eve Thomas-Yates and Harmony Rose-Bremner.
A little treat for you folks.
Two reviews of Godspell from EdFringe
This by Amber Segal
Nothing could have prepared me for the explosion onto the stage of the most energetic, confident and loud children on which I hath ever set mine eyes. All with strong, and very convincing, American accents and colourful costumes, I found myself plunged into the extravaganza of Forth Children’s Theatre’s ‘Godspell’. Is that Jesus playing the trumpet? Oh no, it’s John the Baptist; Jesus is over there in the denim waistcoat.
And this Four star review by Rose Bonsier.
FCT’s production of Godspell was brilliantly received by the audience, gaining a standing ovation at the end of the show for the talented young performers involved. I think this alone is testament to the hard work and energy the cast had put into the show, especially into the musical numbers which were all delivered with great showmanship. Whilst obviously not being as polished as a professional show, the whole cast clearly have a natural talent and, for a children’s theatre group, this was a very impressive piece.
At points I struggled to follow the plotline of the musical as it skipped through a series of biblical stories, but the cast acted each one out in an amusing way, updating parts of the script to be relevant to modern life. The co-ordination of the dance routines for each of the songs was fantastic, and they were quite clearly very well-rehearsed.
The major element of the production which really needs praising is the singing. Rarely have I ever been so impressed by such singing ability in such young performers. Gus Harrower was a remarkable Jesus, playing the piano with great skill as well as singing a huge number of solo parts with incredible character. Ronan Rafferty’s Judas made an equally strong impression on the stage, and the female leads were just as outstanding, with Hayley Scott giving a particularly mesmerizing performance as a woman saved from being stoned for adultery.
Particularly noticeable in this performance was the cleverly considered stage layout. The traverse design meant that the performers were all in good view all of the time and held a very close proximity to the audience, bringing them into the performance. In addition to this, a raised platform area at one end of the hall created a higher stage for key moments in the show, such as Judus’s betrayal of Jesus.
This is a company well versed in performing at the Fringe Festival – this Edinburgh based group has had a play involved every year since 1979 – and whilst Godspell might not be everybody’s cup of tea, as musicals go this impressive theatre company must have exciting things in store for future festivals.
The Godspell poster is ready
Great work by Kevin Woolard. Have a look in detail it’s made up of thousands of images of past cast members, emphasising the idea that Godspell is all about community and working together, not specifically about religion.
Thank you to Dennis and Linda Williams
We had a lovely surprise at the FCT BBQ on Saturday, which was well attended and a great after show party for Seussical as well as a get together for committee, volunteers and a few parents involved in Godspell.
Sophie Williams mum and dad, Dennis and Linda, who run a Broadway Convenience store on Oxgangs Broadway showed up with a cheque for our funds of £500.
They won it as a prize to give to a charity of their choice and, thankfully, they chose us.
Oggie, oggie, oggie, oy, oy, oy. Yah Beauty!
Sold out two nights running
The 36 strong cast of FCT’s Seussical the Musical
Seussical is a triumph. We sold out on opening night and again tonight. We couldn’t have squeezed another body into the wonderful Pleasance Theatre. (Have we mentioned how truly wonderful this theatre is and how brilliant the staff are Chris and Tom in particular. No? well they’re magic.)
Friday night is approaching sell out so get your orders into the hotline quick but there is still availability on Saturday strangely.
Alice, Niall and Steph have done an incredible job in their first ever FCT show and they really are part of the #FCTfam now. We love them all.
After a tough year financially last year this looks like getting us well back on track (which is just as well as we had to spend a lot replacing the doors at Bangholm this week. Thanks to Rene for sorting that.)
Seriously, you need to see this show. Don’t be the one in awkward conversations where people say “Remember Seussical” and you say. “That’s so annoying I never went but I went shopping instead.”
And one last thing. We need a poll. WE haven’t had one for ages. So fill this one in…
Thom Dibdin’s incredible review of Once On This Island
We like this. It’s what Thom has to say about our Fringe show…
There is a gentle sensitively to the performances of the Forth Children’s Theatre company in Once On This Island, running at the Inverleith Church Hall until Saturday, enhanced by a tingle of magical realism to the production itself.
The musical tells a story of young doomed love between peasant girl Ti Moune and the son of a rich plantation family, Daniel, on the French Antilles in the Caribbean. She’s a foundling, an orphan saved after a devastating storm. He is the eldest son of a wealthy plantation owner, a direct descendent of the original French settlers and their slaves. Read more here…
Forth Children's Theatre 