Curtain up on talent

A touch of the West End arrived in Gamlingay last week when children took to the stage to show their musical and acting talents. The event was part of a performing arts workshop with over 120 children taking part at the Gamlingay Community Centre learning

A touch of the West End arrived in Gamlingay last week when children took to the stage to show their musical and acting talents.

The event was part of a performing arts workshop with over 120 children taking part at the Gamlingay Community Centre learning about music, stage lighting, stage make-up, arts and crafts and many other things used in the world of theatre.

The week culminated in a show on Saturday.

The team of tutors included Gamlingay resident Heidi O'Brien who is an actress, singer and dancer currently playing the role of Meg Giry in the London production of Phantom of the Opera.

Heidi was joined by West End colleagues, musician Gideon Robinson, who tours with the Philharmonia Orchestra based at London's South Bank, and his wife Carla, who is a professional musician and teacher with her own string quartet.

The workshop was organised by Forward Gamlingay! a charity dedicated to improving facilities for the village. The money raised during the past week will go towards the many projects the group has in the pipeline.

"The workshop raised about £2,000. This is a huge triumph and relief for the organisers who took a chance that the idea would work and attract enough children," said Forward Gamlingay! member Sarah Groom.

"Over twice as many children took part as we originally hoped, and the success of the project makes it likely there will be a repeat performance.