LYAMC & Showcase
Hits show leads Autumn amateur season
The post-fringe Autumn season of amateur company treats kicks off this week with the traditional openers of LYAMC at the Church Hill Theatre, closely followed by Showcase 2019 a fortnight later.
LYAMC are returning to The Vackees (Wed 4 – Sat 7 Sept) for this year’s offering, a show they last performed in 2005. Which, to be fair to a company made up of eight to 21 year-olds, is before some of this year’s company were even born.
Lothian Youth Arts and Musicalss Company publicity for The Vackees
Set at the outbreak of the Second World War, The Vackees is the funny, moving story of the invasion of a Somerset village by child evacuees from London – the Vackees – and their adventures with the (at first) hostile local children.
The show has music by Carl Davis, who is best known for his film and TV work, and book by children’s author Hiawyn Oram. It centres around a young London lad, Kip, and follows his first experiences of love and war.
The show itself is not structurally perfect, but there is nothing wrong with its aspirations – to provide a vehicle for as many young performers as possible and give them some great numbers to wrap their lungs around.
And given that LYAMC’s main objective is to “make musical theatre fun for 120 youngsters aged 8 to 25”. Both aspirations seem to fit perfectly with the company and its prerequisites for a stonking night out.
Showcase 2019
The Showcase company is equally renowned for ensuring that as many cast members get to have a go on stage as possible. With a cast of over 60 on stage, backed by a fourteen piece orchestra in the pit, that is plenty of people to let loose.
The successful partnership of director Andy Johnston, MD David McFarlane and choreographer Claire Smith doesn’t just ensure that this should be a lot of fun with everyone getting a shot, but they also have a strong reputation for staging, song choice and, most important, the programming.
Yup! It’s Showcase time…
This year’s show features hits from the current award-winning Broadway musicals Kinky Boots and Dear Evan Hansen, as well as classics from the musicals Blood Brothers and Chess. There will also be tunes from the newest versions of A Star is Born and Aladdin.
With the film Bohemian Rhapsody recently hitting the silver screens, the news of some kind of Queen medley or tribute will be unsurprising to regular attendees. The company is also paying tribute to Neil Diamond and will feature songs from the Spice Girls and The Who.
The company has one rule: “To raise funds for charity by profitably staging an annual show offering the highest standard of entertainment and professionalism, comprising a wide variety of musical styles and sources, drawing on the rich vein of amateur musical talent in the Edinburgh area.”
Since Showcase was founded in 1991 the company has focussed on MacMillan Cancer Support and, so far, has raised £282,500 for the charity, helping it continue their essential work with cancer patients, their families and communities which ensuring that no-one will face cancer alone.
Listings
The Vackees
Church Hill Theatre 33a Morningside Road, EH10 4DR
Wednesday 4 – Saturday 7 September 2019
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat Mat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Showcase 2019
Church Hill Theatre 33a Morningside Road, EH10 4DR
Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 September 2019
Wed – Sat: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
ENDS
