We went to the Albany Theatre to see Theatretrain Coventry perform a 20th Anniversary Show. It was like a box of chocolates, and every one is a cracker or a beauty. In two hours, they covered so many different styles. They sang their socks off, danced their feet off and acted their hearts out. There were many moist eyes in that sold-out audience, I can tell you.
They opened with Let Me Entertain You and Uptown Funk and showed us their moves and their grooves. Then they mocked themselves with The Producers, but also handled adolescent angst sensitively in Teenage Dirtbag. When I Grow Up made us sit up, while 4 Hedgehogs crossing the road made us go “Ahhh!” There were mice in Old Amsterdam and a lederhosen German folk dance and jerky puppets for Doll in a Music Box (girls) at the same time as Truly Scrumptious (boys). The first act ended with a full-throated singing of Somewhere. This superb song with wonderful lyrics was our charity single in 2017, and it builds to the most amazing climax full of tear-enducing harmonies. It originated in Coventry Theatretrain, and if you haven’t heard it, you can see and hear the power of its hope here… https://youtu.be/-PHS_RXrekk?si=xELr3lf4RFwDkMm6
In the second act, the cast was joined by ex-students, some now in their 30s, who supported many of the numbers. How many theatre companies would tell the story of E.T. in the time it takes to play the main theme? Then they launched into a ’60s mash-up with Austin Powers and then an excellent rendition of The Rhythm of Life from the musical Sweet Charity. This is a very tricky number with complicated harmonies and lots of diction, and they did it all with smiles on their faces, ’60s movements and no conductor. Throughout the performance, I was struck by the way they communicated their feelings to the audience – they owned that stage big time.
Starmaker, led amongst others by Chloe MacDonald, a year out of Itali Conti, brought us slides of memories and a reminder that friendship is everything – friends made when you are say 12, can last forever. We headed for the finale by Rocking All Over the World, reprising When I Grow Up, and as we watched, we realised that we were seeing different generations from 4–6-year-olds right through to ex-students who clearly still loved the camaraderie and joy of performing. This was something that, if they stayed with it, would stick with them forever.
Outside, I met a mother who said that her daughter also went to other companies to perform, but this was the best training by far because they all cared for each other – simply, it was a family. I also chatted to Dave Willets, star of the West End with Phantom of the Opera, Les Mis and Aspects of Love, whose grandson is a member. He said what he liked most about Theatretrain was that it was for everyone – they all have a moment. I was proud of them all, not least Cate, Tom, Steve, Esme and, now in the background, Katy, who have worked together for years. Here’s to the next 20!
