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Liverpool school's lessons from across the pond
AMERICAN
professional to direct performance of Gilbert & Sullivan classic.
Students at Bellerive FCJ Catholic College, Sefton Park, Liverpool
are to be trained by the professionals for their up-coming
performance of the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera 'The Mikado'.
Accredited Gilbert and Sullivan Stage Director Pamela Leighton-Bilik
is flying in from the USA specially to cast, rehearse and direct the
performance which takes place over 3 nights in July. Bilik, a
stage director with experience of directing productions all over the
world will spend two weeks working closely with the 130 strong cast
and chorus to help hone their acting talents.
The school was chosen to hold this performance by close friend of
Bilik's, Margaret Orton-Williams Chairman of the Williams BMW Group
which is also the main sponsor of the production providing funding
for costumes among other things. Bellerive College was chosen
as it attracts a diverse range of over 970 pupils from all across
the city and has a high academic performance. Predominately a
voluntary aided school for girls, the 6th form is mixed.
Ms Orton-Williams said:- "The production came about after a
conversation with Bilik. We thought it would be fantastic to offer
the students something a bit different and something they could
really get their teeth into. We thought of many reasons why it
couldn't be done before deciding that we absolutely should do our
best to make it happen. The hard work really starts now and
we're totally convinced that Pamela's energy and positivity will
have a massive impact on the children."
Bellerive College organised initial auditions which were open to
every student covering an age range of 11-18. From these
initial auditions, 120 have been chosen for the chorus and 48
budding starlets will compete to make a shortlist of 16 who will
then battle it out to win one of just eight lead roles in the
performance. Pamela comments, "I'm sure the kids will be
giving it their all to impress and win the lead roles."
The performances will be held at Mountford Hall, Liverpool City
centre on Thursday 12 July at 7.30pm, Friday 13 July at 7.30pm and
Saturday 14 July at 2.30 pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale
costing £5 for adults and £3 for concessions with all proceeds going
to Clair House Hospice on Wirral and Jospice International based in
Thornton. Please call 0151 727 2064 for further details. |
BIKES, CAMERA, ACTION ON ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
WIRRAL
Police are getting on their bikes to film incidents and the results
of anti-social behaviour, thanks to funding from Riverside Housing.
Police can be seen cycling around the Seacombe, Egremont and Liscard
areas wearing state-of-the-art head cameras which allow officers to
film disorder as it happens and act on the results more quickly.
Riverside Housing provided £2000 to purchase 2 head cameras and
bikes in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour a major concern for
its residents in the area. Film footage is used as evidence in
court and to inform the parents or guardians of offenders. Police
use of the headcams is also a strong deterrent to anti-social
behaviour, and cycling to incidents means that officers can respond
more quickly particularly across areas of parkland.
Jayne Branch-Murray is community initiatives officer for Riverside
Housing:- "We are really keen to respond to tenants concerns
around the issue of anti-social behaviour. This is just one of many
initiatives that we are working on to make our communities safer
places to live."
A similar initiative was rolled out in the St Helens area last year
and has proved a success in deterring anti-social behaviour and
quickly catching those who offend.
Sgt Gregg Lambert is pleased to be working with Riverside Housing to
take positive action on anti-social behaviour:- "It is through
partnership working such as this that we can have the greatest
impact on anti-social behaviour. We are very grateful to Riverside
for their co-operation and support. Any offender identified can be
assured that CCTV evidence of their behaviour can and will be used
to support prosecution." |
