University of Chichester theatre triple students take us back to 1920s Berlin
Second-year students on the University of Chichester’s musical theatre triple threat course are taking us back to 1920s Berlin with a production of Grand Hotel – The Musical.
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00:00 Good afternoon, my name is Phil here at Group Arts, editor at Sussex Newspapers. Always
00:06 fantastic to speak to the students at the University of Chichester. And here we have
00:10 Freya, Kate and Harry, who are all on the Musical Theatre Triple Threat course, all
00:16 second years, and just about to take to the stage the Grand Hotel, Grand Hotel the Musical,
00:22 from November 23rd to 26th at the University's Bognor campus. Now you're going to be taking
00:27 us back to 1920s Berlin. Harry, tell us a bit about the musical. Why is it something
00:33 that people should stare their stunts and come and see?
00:37 I think it's just a bit different from all the modern musicals at the moment. It really
00:41 goes into some of the different events that were happening back in Berlin, back in the
00:45 1920s. And I think there's a lot of different themes to cover. Obviously, you've got a bit
00:49 of love, tragedy, comedy. I think it's just a bit for everyone.
00:54 And comedy too, then. Is it quite light-hearted or does it deal with some serious things?
00:59 There's definitely a lot of comedy throughout, a lot of laughs, but I think the main subject
01:04 of the musical is a deeper meaning, deeper darker.
01:07 And without giving away too much, can you say what that deeper meaning is?
01:14 Without giving away, I think the main cause of it is money.
01:18 Money. That motivates most things. Now Freya and Kate, you're in the interesting position
01:23 of playing the same role. Not simultaneously, of course, but you are sharing the role of
01:28 Fenchin. Now, how do you approach it? You were saying that you look at it slightly differently.
01:36 Yeah, so it's great because we sort of have each other to rely on, not necessarily rely
01:43 on, but work with each other. But then also we're able to take that different approach
01:49 and how we feel the character wants to go. So it's interesting to make those differences
01:59 and then actually see how different the character is based on the story.
02:03 And Kate was saying that you make the role rather sweeter, cuter than she does. Is that
02:07 a fair comment then?
02:11 I think, I mean, we have just started rehearsals, so maybe that's how I've come across to begin
02:18 with. But maybe, I don't know, I'll see and experiment with different approaches throughout
02:23 the rehearsals.
02:24 And Kate, tell us a bit about Fenchin. What's her situation? What's she wanting to do?
02:30 So she's currently a Typist and she wants to be a big star in Hollywood. And she will
02:38 do whatever it takes to get to Hollywood. She has very big dreams and I think she's
02:43 very, she's a very loving character. She has a few moments, she tries to be quite like,
02:49 almost like mysterious, but deep down she's quite childish. And that does come across
02:54 sometimes because she is just a big kid with dreams. But I think she's got a little flair
03:04 about her and she knows what she's doing and she can take control of situations.
03:09 Oh, sounds brilliant. And fantastic for you all to take this to the stage in front of
03:14 a live audience. That's the ultimate test of what you're learning, isn't it? Is that
03:19 nerve-wracking, Harry, to be doing that?
03:20 A little bit, because I feel like, I think for the last two years, we haven't really
03:27 performed in front of an audience. Obviously, last year we had a little showcase in front
03:31 of the other people in our year, but this time now we're in a theatre of, is it, nearly
03:37 80, 90 people. So, I think it's great.
03:39 Well, that's a nice number, isn't it?
03:41 Oh, definitely, yeah. It's the biggest I've ever performed in front of. Yeah, I think
03:45 it's going to be really exciting.
03:46 And Kate, tell me, what makes you want to be a performer? Something I've never, ever
03:52 wanted to be myself, but why do you want to do this, take to the stage?
03:57 So, my mum is, well, was a performer. She started on cruise ships and she kind of went
04:04 from there. And when I was little, I went to see my mum in a production of Jesus Christ
04:09 Superstar, and I sat there and I was wowed. And I was like, I want to be that woman. So,
04:17 that's how I started. And everything I've got to do, I have my mum to thank. Like, she
04:23 helped me with my dance, like, get me to dance. My singing teacher is still in the Westside
04:28 now, like, Cesaro Bonner. She's in The King and I.
04:32 So, your mum's encouraging, because isn't there that old musical song, Don't Put Your
04:36 Daughter on the Stage, Mrs Worthington?
04:38 I have to say, my mum's not, she's not a strict, like, little dance mum. She's just
04:44 very supportive. And she's like, I was different to you, you're different to me. I'm going
04:50 to support you. I think you're great. And she just, like, she loves watching, like,
04:54 anything, like, my friends do.
04:56 And Freya, what makes you want to do this? I mean, it's scary, but it's also hugely
05:00 competitive, isn't it? You're going to be 18 months' time going out into a very, very
05:04 difficult world for performers, aren't you?
05:06 Yeah, absolutely. I started dancing when I was three, and then actually only started
05:14 singing and acting when I was 16, when I went to performing arts college. And then when
05:20 I was 18, and then when I graduated, it was actually in 2020, when COVID happened. So,
05:25 I took a bit of a break and worked in an office. And I had actually planned to sort of put
05:31 performing on the back burner. And I was still teaching on a Saturday, but that's all I
05:36 was doing. And I really lost almost who I was during those two years of working in office.
05:43 And it really made me realise that this is what I need to do, and I'm going to do no
05:48 matter what it takes.
05:49 That's a very good way of finding out what you want to do, isn't it? Do the right thing.
05:54 Exactly, yeah.
05:55 Brilliant. Well, congratulations to you all. Really lovely to speak to you all. And I hope
06:00 you have a fantastic time with the production and good luck for the rest of your studies.
06:04 Thank you.
06:04 Thank you so much.
06:05 Thank you.
06:07 Thank you.