Southend Operatic & Dramatic Society
Singin' in the Rain
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
22nd - 25th November 2017
Singin' in the Rain
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
22nd - 25th November 2017
Nick Bright, 27, from Canvey Island has been a member of Southend Operatic & Dramatic Society for 8 years now and in that time he has performed in shows such as West Side Story, played roles such as Leo Bloom in The Producers, Cornelius Hackl in Hello Dolly and Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages. Not one to shirk a challenge, when the opportunity came up to direct the Society's next production, Singin' in the Rain, Nick jumped at the chance.
In 2010 Nick went to the Birmingham School of Acting for three years and from there, landed quite a bit of professional work which included touring. He is also a member of the Theatre of Heaven and Hell theatre company, who recently won the award for 'Most Popular Show' at the Camden Fringe Festival with the play, Helen.
Nick is the first to admit that he didn't really realise how big a show such as Singin' in the Rain would actually be when he took on the role of director and confesses that it has been a challenge, "But a good challenge!" he smiles. Aside from the usual job of directing the cast for stage, he also had to direct some outdoor filming, which is part of of the stage show. "I'd never done anything like that before but I really enjoyed getting involved with camera angles, lighting and all that kind of thing. It was really good to work with local film-makers, Dave Taylor and Danny Smith."
In the cast is Rob Maynard, who will be playing the famous Gene Kelly character of Don Lockwood, Ewan Dunlop who plays Don's best friend, Cosmo - the brains of the outfit - and the part of Lena Lamont will be played by SODS regular Laura Mann. Nick says, "They [Don and Lena] were like the George Clooney and Scarlett Johannson of the day when this production is set. It was the 1920s and the silent movie era." he explains. "But then the talking movies come along and it soon becomes apparent that Lena Lamont can't actually sing or dance or do anything, so when Don meets the talented actress Cathy Seldon, played by Kirsty Bone, they realise that they can dub Lena's voice with Cathy's."
Featuring songs such as Gotta Dance, Make Em Laugh, All I Do is Dream of You, Beautiful Girls, Good Mornin' and of course the title song Singin' in the Rain. the show demands a good Musical Director and Choreographer and Nick is thrilled to have Elizabeth Dunlop on board as well as Sarah Rose-Dunn who runs Donovans Dance School in Dagenham and who Nick has been friends with since college. "When I asked her if she wanted to choreograph the show, she literally bit my right arm off to do it because she absolutely loves Gene Kelly and the show."
Nick confides, "She's got these guys dancing like they've never danced before. Even some of the older gentlemen in the cast who said they didn't want to do it have suddenly found themselves volunteering! She's really great!"
Nick says of his directing debut, "It's been a great insight into how a show works and has made me appreciate the people who do the set, costumes and backstage and also the cast have been great."
I ask Nick if there's anything else we need to know about the show, like will they be actually singing in the rain for instance; to which he smiles wryly and replies, "You'll have to wait and see. There will be plenty of surprises!"
Grab your tickets for this blockbuster show at www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
In 2010 Nick went to the Birmingham School of Acting for three years and from there, landed quite a bit of professional work which included touring. He is also a member of the Theatre of Heaven and Hell theatre company, who recently won the award for 'Most Popular Show' at the Camden Fringe Festival with the play, Helen.
Nick is the first to admit that he didn't really realise how big a show such as Singin' in the Rain would actually be when he took on the role of director and confesses that it has been a challenge, "But a good challenge!" he smiles. Aside from the usual job of directing the cast for stage, he also had to direct some outdoor filming, which is part of of the stage show. "I'd never done anything like that before but I really enjoyed getting involved with camera angles, lighting and all that kind of thing. It was really good to work with local film-makers, Dave Taylor and Danny Smith."
In the cast is Rob Maynard, who will be playing the famous Gene Kelly character of Don Lockwood, Ewan Dunlop who plays Don's best friend, Cosmo - the brains of the outfit - and the part of Lena Lamont will be played by SODS regular Laura Mann. Nick says, "They [Don and Lena] were like the George Clooney and Scarlett Johannson of the day when this production is set. It was the 1920s and the silent movie era." he explains. "But then the talking movies come along and it soon becomes apparent that Lena Lamont can't actually sing or dance or do anything, so when Don meets the talented actress Cathy Seldon, played by Kirsty Bone, they realise that they can dub Lena's voice with Cathy's."
Featuring songs such as Gotta Dance, Make Em Laugh, All I Do is Dream of You, Beautiful Girls, Good Mornin' and of course the title song Singin' in the Rain. the show demands a good Musical Director and Choreographer and Nick is thrilled to have Elizabeth Dunlop on board as well as Sarah Rose-Dunn who runs Donovans Dance School in Dagenham and who Nick has been friends with since college. "When I asked her if she wanted to choreograph the show, she literally bit my right arm off to do it because she absolutely loves Gene Kelly and the show."
Nick confides, "She's got these guys dancing like they've never danced before. Even some of the older gentlemen in the cast who said they didn't want to do it have suddenly found themselves volunteering! She's really great!"
Nick says of his directing debut, "It's been a great insight into how a show works and has made me appreciate the people who do the set, costumes and backstage and also the cast have been great."
I ask Nick if there's anything else we need to know about the show, like will they be actually singing in the rain for instance; to which he smiles wryly and replies, "You'll have to wait and see. There will be plenty of surprises!"
Grab your tickets for this blockbuster show at www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
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Nick with his leading players, Rob Maynard, Kirsty Bone and Ewan Dunlop
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