November 4 2011.


The Seaford Musical Theatre Juniors shone in their first ever production, Jessie's Dream, performed at the Barn Theatre, Seaford last week. The story revolved around a young girl researching the 1970's for a school project who fell asleep and woke up in a retro classroom filled with warring punks and hippies. As reality broke through the dream barrier, did Jessie bring harmony to both the music and her new classmates before she woke up?

With just 12 weeks to write, choreograph and stage the show with a cast of mainly first-time performers aged between 8-16, many lesser directors might have avoided the challenge, but stage veteran Paula Woolven clearly revelled in it. Assisted by producer Shar Turnbull, Paula involved the children in the concept of the show, the design and making of the costumes and the choreography of the dances.

"It really was their show, " explained Paula. "Fom the story idea to the characters to the costumes and dancing. I just helped by putting the script together. It was colourful, energetic and extremely entertaining. The audience were up on their feet at every performance. I loved the fact that the children wanted to show how different society and music has become over the past forty years. With songs from Abba squaring off against Lady Gaga and Donny Osmond vs Bruno Mars, the music delighted every member of the audience of all generations."

A guest appearance from Spoony's Street Dancers provided more 'Wow Factor' and dance teachers Jo Hatt and Seaford School of Dancing teacher Lindy Nash helped with choreography during rehearsals. The piano accompanist was the Young Mayor of Seaford young performer award winner, Phil McMullen.

The group only started in July, with financial support from the Rotary Club of Seaford and the Police Property Fund. It is a not-for-profit volunteer run community group, meeting once a week.

With disability access works being fully funded by the Keith Baker Charitable Trust and planned for Spring 2012, the Junior volunteers have been meeting with the local authorities and potential funders and service providers with a view to starting a musical theatre group for local disabled and special needs young people and hope to be able to move forward with the project once building works have finished.

A replica of one of the first massive mobile phones, Lady Gaga's outrageous lobster hats and a poster of the Bay City Rollers are now put away in the SMT Juniors props box and they are all looking forward to starting rehearsals for their next show "Carry On Up The Beanstalk", a musical pantomime which will be staged in March 2012.