Young directors take the spotlight at Arts Centre

Saturday 24 March 2018

The curtain is up for the next generation of directors. Three young members of the Jersey Amateur Dramatic Club, aged 15 to 16, have directed "Taking the spotlight," a variety style performance presented today at 14:30 and 19:30 at Jersey Arts Centre.

Charlotte Keywood, Leo Perestrelo and Oliver Scott managed the whole production process from the auditions to the rehearsals and also perform in "Taking the spotlight."

The show will include several tunes from the recently released 'The Greatest Showman' as well as hits such as Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" and Rag'n'Bone Man's "Human." The show will also include solo and group dance numbers as well as a gym routine and some tap dance. Drama will also feature heavily in "Taking the Spotlight" with a reenactment of the Three Little Pigs and Frozen.

Charlotte, Leo and Oliver oversaw the whole production, choosing the acts and putting the show together by themselves, with the support of the older members of the JADC. While Oliver confessed that musical direction has been a career goal ever since he first got, the other two had different reasons to try their hand at directing. 

Video: The cast rehearsing under the direction of Oliver.

Charlotte said: "I’ve always wanted to really challenge myself before I begin to audition for Performing Arts Colleges in the UK and I believed that this would be an amazing opportunity for myself, Oliver and Leo. I love working with children as well and they’re aren’t many opportunities for under 18s regarding the Arts so I feel very privileged to be working with a number of talented young people."

Leo said: "As a performer I have always been able to creatively visualise how other performers around me could perform, with aspirations in the future to become a teacher around the performing arts area I thought it would be a great experience to be directing a performance and be able to express my creative visions with talented youth in the island."

Pictured: Oliver directing the young choir.

While the experience was new for the trio, who is usually only performing, they all enjoyed it with Oliver even confessing he prefers directing. He said: "The best part of my experience was being able to arrange harmonies, and hearing the final product when its all put together. There’s nothing more satisfying."

Leo was a bit more 'on the fence.' He said: "I have been performing for as long as I can remember just as I have been developing strong leadership skills throughout the years necessary for directing. I enjoy the practical side of performing, interacting with others on the stage, connecting with the overall energy created in our performances. Similarly I enjoy the tailored directing approach of exploring acting skills in other performers and exhibiting their acting skills as well as guiding them through my direction. I have more experience performing but have thoroughly enjoyed directing such a talented cast."

For Charlotte, who has performed for the majority of her life and directed only one production, it was hard to judge which one she preferred. She said: "I have a strong passion for performing but in the future, I would love to expand my knowledge of directing and choreography productions. The whole experience for me has been extremely positive. I am constantly learning new things and expanding my knowledge greatly. I feel like I have benefited from the experience so much and, as a team, we got the correct balance of having fun and getting all of our pieces finished ready flor the final performance."

Pictured: The cast of 'Taking the Spotlight.'

Even though directing was a challenge - "it was very difficult to have to judge performer’s strengths and weaknesses and evaluate their skills as performers," said Leo - the trio would love to do it again. Leo said: "It would be lovely to be able to direct again possibly a full length production of just one specific show. ‘Taking the spotlight’ is a directing opportunity for me which gives us producers the chance to take a directing spotlight as well as allowing the talented youths of the island, who very rarely r get the chance to be the main attraction of a production, the chance to elicit their talents and share these with the community. Directing has been such a rewarding experience, so yes I would love to direct again some time in the future."