Take the Stage
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2024 at 7.30pm
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2024 at 7.30pm
Extravaganza performance will bring incredible opportunities for local young talent
An extravaganza of dance and musical theatre, showcasing the very best young performers Essex has to offer, will come to the Cliffs Pavilion in June – giving over 700 talented young people the chance to perform at this prestigious professional venue.
‘Take the Stage’ marks the seventh year of performances from the production company of the same name, created by local actress and TV presenter Amy Burrows. Having grown up in Southend, Amy, from Thorpe Bay, has first-hand experience of how performing at nationally recognised venues – such as the Cliffs Pavilion – can have such a significant impact on young performers.
“I loved performing locally right through my childhood, and took every opportunity get onstage – whether it was in pantomimes, amateur dramatics, or speech and drama festivals,” recalls Amy.
“I passionately believe that children should have the chance to get up and perform, as the discipline, confidence, teamwork and performance skills you learn ain a professional theatre really do stay with you forever.”
As a result of her experiences, Amy created her production company in 2016 to bridge the gap between young performers and otherwise inaccessible venues. And, with the ultimate aim of allowing the talent of tomorrow to ‘take the stage’, she had no difficulty in deciding on a name!
Given Take the Stage’s local roots, there could not be a more apt venue for its performance than Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion, and preparations are already well underway. Scheduled to take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2024 at 7.30pm, ‘Take the Stage’ will feature singing and dancing from performers aged 4-18, representing some of Essex’s most esteemed performing arts schools:
The Cliffs Pavilion welcomes national touring musicals every year, and has hosted a prestigious roster of world-famous musicians, bands and comedians, including Paul McCartney, One Direction and Oasis. And now ‘Take the Stage’ will allow potential stars of the future to add their names to the list.
One such performer is Henry Woods, who trains at the Morgan Academy of Performing Arts in Leigh-on-Sea.
“This is a really exciting opportunity, as not many people get the chance to perform at the Cliffs, especially at our ages,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to sharing the stage with so many other young performers!”
Indeed, one of the key barriers which traditionally prevents local schools from organising such performances is the financial strain it can put on the school itself, as well as the parents of performers. From the pressure of selling enough tickets to fill a large venue to the financial outlay of travelling up to London or organising coaches, it is easy to see why the opportunity for local schools to perform at professional venues is such a rare one.
‘Take the Stage’ will instead take that pressure away from the teachers and performers, giving them the chance to focus fully on the creative aspect of the event. In fact, interest from local schools has been so high, Take the Stage has already booked date for its eighth year of performances at the Cliffs Pavilion in 2025, and is looking for performers who want to be involved.
As well as featuring each performing arts school individually, this year’s ‘Take the Stage’ will close with a grand finale of all performers, choreographed by Tom Broderick, who has performed globally with Matthew Bourne, and Fran Dearlove, who has also performed globally.
This chance for performers from different schools to work together also brings a unique social aspect to ‘Take the Stage’. As Abi Leonard, Principal and Owner of Leonard Dance Academy in Rayleigh, says, “It’s not only a brilliant opportunity that I’m sure the students will remember forever; it is also a time where students will build friendships and make some amazing memories.”
To find out more about Take the Stage and its next performance, visit the company’s Instagram page: www.instagram.com/takethestageuk. Alternatively, tickets can be booked from the Cliffs Pavilion Box Office (01702 351135 or www.southendtheatres.org.uk) and are priced £26.
‘Take the Stage’ marks the seventh year of performances from the production company of the same name, created by local actress and TV presenter Amy Burrows. Having grown up in Southend, Amy, from Thorpe Bay, has first-hand experience of how performing at nationally recognised venues – such as the Cliffs Pavilion – can have such a significant impact on young performers.
“I loved performing locally right through my childhood, and took every opportunity get onstage – whether it was in pantomimes, amateur dramatics, or speech and drama festivals,” recalls Amy.
“I passionately believe that children should have the chance to get up and perform, as the discipline, confidence, teamwork and performance skills you learn ain a professional theatre really do stay with you forever.”
As a result of her experiences, Amy created her production company in 2016 to bridge the gap between young performers and otherwise inaccessible venues. And, with the ultimate aim of allowing the talent of tomorrow to ‘take the stage’, she had no difficulty in deciding on a name!
Given Take the Stage’s local roots, there could not be a more apt venue for its performance than Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion, and preparations are already well underway. Scheduled to take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2024 at 7.30pm, ‘Take the Stage’ will feature singing and dancing from performers aged 4-18, representing some of Essex’s most esteemed performing arts schools:
The Cliffs Pavilion welcomes national touring musicals every year, and has hosted a prestigious roster of world-famous musicians, bands and comedians, including Paul McCartney, One Direction and Oasis. And now ‘Take the Stage’ will allow potential stars of the future to add their names to the list.
One such performer is Henry Woods, who trains at the Morgan Academy of Performing Arts in Leigh-on-Sea.
“This is a really exciting opportunity, as not many people get the chance to perform at the Cliffs, especially at our ages,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to sharing the stage with so many other young performers!”
Indeed, one of the key barriers which traditionally prevents local schools from organising such performances is the financial strain it can put on the school itself, as well as the parents of performers. From the pressure of selling enough tickets to fill a large venue to the financial outlay of travelling up to London or organising coaches, it is easy to see why the opportunity for local schools to perform at professional venues is such a rare one.
‘Take the Stage’ will instead take that pressure away from the teachers and performers, giving them the chance to focus fully on the creative aspect of the event. In fact, interest from local schools has been so high, Take the Stage has already booked date for its eighth year of performances at the Cliffs Pavilion in 2025, and is looking for performers who want to be involved.
As well as featuring each performing arts school individually, this year’s ‘Take the Stage’ will close with a grand finale of all performers, choreographed by Tom Broderick, who has performed globally with Matthew Bourne, and Fran Dearlove, who has also performed globally.
This chance for performers from different schools to work together also brings a unique social aspect to ‘Take the Stage’. As Abi Leonard, Principal and Owner of Leonard Dance Academy in Rayleigh, says, “It’s not only a brilliant opportunity that I’m sure the students will remember forever; it is also a time where students will build friendships and make some amazing memories.”
To find out more about Take the Stage and its next performance, visit the company’s Instagram page: www.instagram.com/takethestageuk. Alternatively, tickets can be booked from the Cliffs Pavilion Box Office (01702 351135 or www.southendtheatres.org.uk) and are priced £26.
