When Dan Schunmann, of Soham’s Viva Youth Theatre,
asked me to do a drama workshop with the group, I casually asked how many were
likely to turn up.
Fifteen, he suggested. A staggering 46 young folk, aged nine to 19 appeared from
addresses ranging right across Cambridgeshire and well beyond, and not for the
first time that evening I was truly gob smacked by a level of commitment to
youth drama that I’d never seen before, and am more than likely never to see
again.
Last Saturday night they showed me what could be done with 'Me and My Girl', a
musical written when the cast’s great-grandfathers were their age, from a
different world, with a different language. They took the show by the throat and
shook it. What came out was some extraordinary comic timing (Luke O’Brien), some
idyllic singing (Hannah Ross). some hugely creative direction (Dan Schunmann)
and a complete sense of joy (from the entire company of well over 40).
If you missed it, I’m sorry - you missed a great night out. If you’ve got a
child remotely interested in what Viva describes as quality training for life,
not just the theatre, get in touch with them.
And if you think the story of Cameron Mackintosh, the country’s best-known and
most successful theatrical impresario, is far fetched then just jot down the
name of Dan Schunmann
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