with Rising Stars
Come with us on an epic journey through musical theatre history as the Minack Musical Theatre Academy students perform classic songs from artists such as Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Boublil and Schonberg and beyond!
The Minack Musical Theatre Academy is a programme that helps young people in Cornwall to develop the advanced performance skills and knowledge necessary to start their journey towards a performing arts career. Our students spend one day a month working with professional practitioners and taking part in seminars with guest speakers from the theatre world, including leading directors, actors and West End stars.
Review by Jenni Balow
STARS ON THE CLIFFSIDE
MINACK MUSICAL THEATRE ACADEMY
WITH RISING STARS
Another Opening, Another Show - how the young stars of tomorrow energetically squeezed every drop out of the opportunity to sing and dance on one of the most famous stages in the world, right here in West Cornwall.
The song from Cole Porter's musical, Kiss Me Kate, was a great start to an hour's non-stop entertainment by a great bunch of kids that are members of the Minack's Musical Theatre Academy, who are trained in all aspects of the profession.
They audition every September from primary school age, as Rising Stars, and many do not leave until they go on to pursue careers in acting and performing at a range of universities and specialist training schools, having worked with professionals and learned about careers in the industry with the academy.
A kink in the Jet Stream, bringing heavy rain and gales to the open air Minack Theatre, had been a challenge, but the Stars On The Cliffside were ready for anything, with director Daisy Boyles in charge. The band headed by Millie Millington and Mark Smith on keyboards, sheltered under canvas on stage with drummer Ross Hamilton, and bassist Morwenna Bilham.
Harmonies, solos, cartwheels and somersaults were immaculately performed, with the pace contrasting between the knees-up of Step in Time from Mary Poppins, complete with 'rooftop' choreography with chimney sweep brushes, by Daisy and Shannon Mann, to Heart Full of Love from Les Mis, beautifully sung by Joe Millington, Grace Benney and Erin Collins.
Fresh from her wonderful performance in Antigone with the Minack Acting Academy earlier in the week, Lauren Ridehalgh made a trio with Dora Carter and Robyn Dilnot for I Know It's Today, from Shrek:The Musical.
Other soloists included Charlotte Mann, Izzy Hall-Golding, Plum Butler, Lorna Moran and Sandy and Maisy Finn-Haylock, joing Joe for the Sound of Music's, Eidelweiss, and many other hits from the musicals.
The little un's charmed with One Jump Ahead from Aladdin, and they all sent us hot-stepping our way home with a Mamma Mia Medley.
