This July, Leeds Grand Youth Theatre prepares to take over The Varieties stage for the 11th year – this time with the 80s classic, Little Shop of Horrors. From music to rehearsals, let’s take a look at the process of bringing Little Shop to the stage – tentacles and all.
Written by Aaron Cawood and Bill Halsey
In rehearsal mode
Every year, Leeds Grand Youth Theatre spends its term-time Saturdays putting together a full-scale musical ahead of performances in July. From auditioning to casting to costuming and choreography, all of the magic happens downstairs at Leeds Grand Theatre in The Grand Studio. It’s a collaborative process that is split between sessions with three age groups – the 8-11 group one, 12-14 for group two, and 15-18 for group three.
For the majority of the year, these three groups rehearse apart, each learning their parts before bringing it all together for show week. That means that all of the big ensemble numbers we see by the time the curtain rises have been meticulously taught in sections, waiting for the moment that we get to see it all come together. For some members, this is familiar ground, as many of the older members of LGYT have been attending for years. But this year, for some of our group ones, this will be their first time performing on this scale.
Group One. Credit: Chris Coote
Lottie as Seymour. Credit: Chris Coote
Lizi Patch. Credit: Chris Coote
Despite the scale, our team is well-equipped to make the magic happen. Artistic Director Lizi Patch is a playwright, dramaturg and artist who also directs our Leeds Actors in Training, and has worked with Leeds Heritage Theatres for over a decade. Joining her, Choreographer Dawn Holgate has also been with us for over a decade, applying her extensive experience in professional dance to all of our young people. Find out more from our interview with Dawn. To complete the creative trio, Pete Rosser serves as our Musical Director – master of many instruments, and a performer in his own right as well as a teacher.
But it takes a village to bring Skid Row to City Varieties Music Hall. Aside from this trifecta of creative talent, LGYT is headed by Ashley and Imogen from our Learning and Engagement team. Add in support from our technical team for the set build, get-in, lighting, sound, and everything else that makes our shows shine, and you’ve got just a glimpse into the amount of work and talent that goes into LGYT every year. And that is without mentioning our fantastic band. To learn more about that side of the process, we sat down with band member, Billy.
Munashe as Audrey. Credit: Chris Coote
The LGYT team. Imogen Hinchliffe, Ashley Pekri, Dawn Holgate, Lizi Patch and Pete Rosser. Credit: Chris Coote
Group Two. Credit: Chris Coote
Getting the band back together
The band for LGYT’s productions is made up of extremely talented students from Leeds Conservatoire. Billy was with us last year for The Addams Family, and is returning to the drumkit this year for Little Shop of Horrors.
First off, could you introduce yourself and tell us what you studied at Leeds Conservatoire?
Hi, I’m Bill, I play drums, and I’ve just finished studying Jazz.
What does the average day in the life as a student at Leeds Conservatoire look like?
The average day at Conservatoire includes either a lecture, lesson or seminar, some time in the library, some time practicing in a practice room or my flat, and at least a session playing with a group.
What instrument(s) do you play and how long have you been studying? What’s that been like?
The only instrument I play to a reasonable standard is the drums, and I’ve been learning for about 13 years. I love drums, and I had an amazing teacher from when I started to when I came to the conservatoire, who came from a classical background and gave me a very rounded teaching of lots of genres, percussion, and the process of improving and learning to play things that I would listen to is rewarding to me.
What advice would you have for anyone looking to get into playing an instrument who doesn’t know where to start?
Probably either get lessons at a school or local music centre, but always play music that you want to play alongside music that you have to, to keep your love for music.
Billy during LGYT's The Addams Family. Credit: Chris Coote
Billy playing the drums
Our Youth Theatre productions are lucky to be supported by students from Leeds Conservatoire to provide our band – is that something you’ve taken part in before? How does taking part, learning and rehearsing for those shows look, especially with Little Shop of Horrors coming up next month?
Yes! I played in the production of The Addams Family last summer. I always want to be very prepared for this sort of music, so before the first band call, I make sure I’ve listened to the music lots and figured out the basic sound of the musical and each song, so at the first session as a band I can sightread the music with as much confidence as possible, and do my best to hold the band together if necessary. I then do my best to learn all the music in my own time before the full-day rehearsals so they can be as efficient as possible.
Are you a musical theatre person? If so, what’s your favourite show you’ve seen/taken part in?
A bit, I do love playing musical theatre music in particular, I enjoyed The Addams Family last year, but I think my favourite show I’ve played in was either Matilda, or Our House. Matilda is my favourite show I’ve seen I think.
Besides musical theatre, what sort of music do you enjoy playing/listening to?
I’m a big jazz fan, particularly playing fairly modern jazz, and I also love some indie pop like Fizz.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Outside of music, I like painting miniatures, and a bit of gaming.
What would you like to see yourself doing ten years from now? Any big goals, music-related or otherwise?
10 years from now I’d love to have released various bits of my music, and hopefully have a cat.
More from Learning and Engagement
LHT Unwrapped: Drama Day
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be somebody else for the day?
Do you ever use drama to become that person?
Join us at Leeds Grand Theatre 7 – 16 August 2024 to explore all of the things drama can teach you, with groups for ages 6 to 14.
Book tickets
Leeds Grand Youth Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors from Thu 25 – Sun 28 July 2024.
Seymour Krelbourne, a hapless orphan, changes the fortunes of Mushnik’s failing flower shop on Skid Row when he finds a very strange-looking plant in the market after a sudden eclipse of the sun. But turns out the sinister succulent who sings for its supper has ambitions of his own…
Can Seymour and Audrey break free of Skid Row and be happy? Or will their all-consuming love be… well… CONSUMED!
