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Blood Brother Richard launches Leighton theatre masterclass
West End star returns to home town to stage Musical Theatre High!
WEST End star Richard Reynard is going back to his roots to launch a theatre workshop in Leighton.
Richard, currently starring in the musical Blood Brothers, grew up in Linslade and the town was his first choice for starting a masterclass
in performing that he's calling Musical Theatre High!
The performer is hosting a one-day workshop at Vandyke Upper School on February 16 which is being followed by a three day session at Easter and a five-day theatre school during the summer holidays.
The handsome 32-year-old blue-eyed actor and singer will be joined by fellow West End musical star Gemma Baird who, until recently, has been appearing as Maria in The Sound of Music at the London Palladium.
The workshops are aimed at 11-17-year-olds who want to get their first taste of showbusiness. There will be sessions on acting, singing and dance before the theatre wannabes perform songs from Mamma Mia and Hairspray in front of their family and friends.
Richard is hoping the longer summer workshop may include a full-scale performance of a top musical.
"I've been teaching for about 10 years during spells of unemployment and I really enjoy it, "said Richard.
"I wanted to launch the workshop in my home town to give students the opportunity to work with myself and Gemma, to pass on the knowledge I've learned from appearing in the West End and to let them experience what it's like to act."
Richard first caught the acting bug at the tender age of three as he sat on his mum's knee in the Bossard Hall watching his brother James perform on stage.
"I remember sitting there in my red wellies and my mum having to physically hold me back. My instinct, even then, was to climb on stage and show off!
"I knew I wanted to perform. There was never any doubt. When I was at Linslade Lower School there was an opportunity to take a ballet class and I asked my parents if I could go.
"At that time it wasn't the sort of thing boys were expected to do but my mum and dad were and always have been, incredibly supportive."
Richard left Cedars Upper School and joined a top drama school before launching his career on stage. He has since appeared in Fame, Cats, Chicago, the Witches of Eastwick, Grease and My Fair Lady.
"I want to help teenagers who are thinking of a career in the performing arts. At their age I was desperate for knowledge about the profession and the best way to learn is to talk to someone like me who has done it.
"I'm running the classes at Vandyke because their facilities are incredible. I want people who have never been on stage to people who may have performed in am-dram. Novices may be nervous but we're going to make it fun and everyone will gain from the experience.
"This is something I feel passionately about and I want to inspire others. It means so much to me to do this in the town where I grew up."
Richard was back in Leighton on Friday talking to students at the town's schools about the project.
Check out Richard's website www.richardreynard.com for details about Musical Theatre High! email richardreynard@musicaltheatrehigh.com or call 0208 778859.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Thursday 17 May 2012
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