GRACE BAKER – A MUSICAL THEATRE SUCCESS STORY 

Year 12 student Grace Baker joined Richmond Sixth Form College last September to start her A Level studies. She had chosen Theatre Studies, Music and Health and Social Care and quickly integrated herself into sixth form life, especially the music and drama departments. Grace is a very accomplished singer, which was obvious from the start, but her gift for performance and her stage presence really started to become clear to us when she performed at the Christmas Concert back in December. Mr Boyd, Lead Teacher of Music, said: “When the group got on stage to perform, Grace absolutely came alive and performed so well vocally, but also her confidence in ‘performing’ and engaging the audience was wonderful. I was so pleased for her and the group, a real highlight.” 

Earlier this term Grace mentioned to Mr Boyd that she had recently auditioned for the part of Belle in the Richmond Operatic Society’s upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast and been successful. With a few more questions, it then started to become clear to us that this wasn’t just a one-off and that Grace has already built up a wealth of experience in musical theatre and has her mind set with steely determination on a career on the stage. We had to find out more! 

We caught up with Grace recently to fill in some gaps and to find out about her involvement with local musical theatre and her ambitions for the future. 

RS: So, Grace, we know that you’re a brilliant singer and performer and we know you’ve just successfully auditioned for the part of Belle in the Richmond Operatic Society’s production of Beauty and the Beast. We also know you have ambitions for the future in musical theatre, but we don’t know much else about you. Let’s go back to the beginning – when did your love of musical theatre start? 

GB: In primary school. I was in the Pauline Quirke Academy in Darlington and we had this amazing opportunity to go down to London and perform a production called The Lazy Ace in the west End – The Shaftesbury Theatre. I played the Lazy Ace – it was a bit like Bugsy Malone and Annie – my character used to win all the money to look after the orphans. Up there on that stage – that’s where it started – my love of performing and being in front of an audience. 

RS: Ok, so that was the spark that started it all. What about since then – what have been the highlights? 

GB: Well, actually from that point nothing big happened. I kept going to my classes and then Covid hit when I was in Year 8. I fell out with performing a bit and lost confidence – I think a lot of people did over lockdown. I was still watching musical theatre on the TV, though and – I remember this so specifically – it was when Britain’s Got Talent was doing a big show with Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins and Les Mis. I saw Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine in Les Mis and all those feelings just came back – I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I was back! 

Just after Covid, I got a part in a production called The Station Master with the Charlotte Jaqueline School of Dance in Richmond. It was an immersive performance where we were performing while the audience were sitting at tables having drinks and food. It was set during World War 1 and I played a character called Dot. At the same time, I was in The Adams Family musical with the Richmond Operatic Society – two productions at once were quite stressful! 

I then played the role of Sebastian the crab in The Little Mermaid with the Darlington Academy of Performing Arts. That was Year 10. In Year 11 I played Dorothy in Risedale School’s production of the Wizard of Oz. That was fun! Really challenging, though, alongside my GCSEs. 

RS: I was going to ask you about that. How do you find keeping a balance between your studies and your musical theatre commitments? It must have been hard during your GCSEs and you must be feeling it now as an A Level student? 

GB: Yes, definitely. I find it OK, though. I actually like the stress and the pressure – I feel as though I perform at my best when I’ve got lots to do. It can be quite overwhelming just before and during a production, though – it’s difficult to think about anything else! 

RS: Performing well under pressure – that’s a great quality to have – bodes well for the future! 

So, Year 11 at Risedale, then you came to Richmond to start Year 12. How’s it going and what have you done recently in terms of your singing and musical theatre? 

GB: I really like Richmond. The music and drama departments are amazing! I’m doing lots of singing, with my music A Level and also lessons with Charotte Jaqueline. I’ve just passed my LAMDA Grade 5 Musical Theatre exam with 94/100 – a distinction. I was quite pleased with that! Now working on my Grade 6. 

Just before Christmas I played Dorothy again, this time in Hudswell Village Players’ panto production of the Wizard of Oz. That was such a lovely production to be involved in – I love a good musical, but nothing beats panto! It’s brilliant to find out that lines you’ve been rehearsing that are supposed to be funny *are* actually funny. The trepidation I feel before a big production was there, but just evaporated when I got up on that stage. 

The team at Hudswell were fantastic – it’s such an amazing community there. They didn’t really know me to start with – I only auditioned because I saw it on Facebook – but they were so welcoming. 

RS: I’ve read a review of the Hudswell production from the National Opera and dramatic Association (NODA). It was absolutely brilliant! And a whole paragraph singing the praises of, “Grace Baker … an absolute star in the making.” It sounds like this tiny little team put on quite a show! 

GB: That review was quite special. The NODA Regional Representative came along on one of the nights and they loved the show!  

RS: Ok, what else – the Military WAGs Choir – tell us a little bit about that.  

GB: Yes, that’s another group I’m involved in – they’re amazing – I do their social media as well as singing with them. A big recent highlight was a performance we took part in at Durham Cathedral to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day – the Army Benevolent Fund Festival of Remembrance. It was such an emotional and moving event. We had been asked to dress up in 1940s costumes to perform and there were lots of different performances – choirs and dancers and bands and speakers. Really something to be involved in. 

RS: So, A Levels, LAMDA exams, various musical theatre productions, singing with the Military WAGs choir *and* finding time to do their social media! Anything else? 

GB: Yes! I’ve recently been through quite a rigorous audition to become a member of the Darlington Operatic Society. There were about 60 people auditioning. There was a dance workshop (nerve-wracking!), then an acting workshop and then we had to sing a song of our choice. Not many people got in – about 12. It’s quite prestigious. When you’re a member, you can audition for the productions they put on at the Hippodrome – it’s a real step towards professional musical theatre. I’m now part of the vocal pre-record group for their upcoming production of Everybody’s Talking about Jamie. 

RS: That sounds technical – what’s a vocal pre-record group? 

GB: We perform the ensemble numbers in a recording studio, then our vocals are played during the production when the ensemble players are dancing – it fills in the vocal sound because it’s hard to sing properly in full voice when you’re dancing! 

RS: Well, I never knew that. A glimpse behind the scenes of a professional production! 

Ok, let’s go back to the most recent role – your successful audition for Belle in Richmond Operatic Society’s Beauty and the Beast – tell us a little bit about that. 

GB: We did some scenes and then had to sing Belle’s two songs. We then met the cast to see if we all go along and fitted in OK. Two of us got the part – we’ll share the performances when the production starts. It’ll be exciting! 

RS: It certainly sounds like it! I look forward to hearing more about the production closer to the time. 

Let’s finish off by looking forward a bit – have you thought what happens next, after your A Levels? 

GB: Yes, definitely! ArtsEd in London for a Musical Theatre degree. That’s my goal. Lots of the people I follow in musical theatre went there, so that’s where I want to go! I’ll apply to other places, of course, but that’s number one. After that, who knows? Auditions! 

RS: That’s a long way off! But you’ve certainly had lots of experience already and are giving yourself the best chance for success that you possibly can. All the very best for the future – for your upcoming productions, your A Levels and your ArtsEd application – please keep us up to date with things! 

Thanks to Grace for taking the time out of her very busy schedule to give us such a fascinating insight into the life of someone with the passion, talent and work ethic needed to get a foot in the door of a life in musical theatre. I think you’ll agree that Grace has made a very strong start! 

Thanks to Christine Meldon Photography for photos of the Hudswell Village Players