Life’s a carousel for former students

 It is fantastic to hear how many students, staff and former students are involved in performing arts in the area.  Sisters Amelia and Freya Woodward, who left Richmond School recently, were both passionate about dance, drama and music while at school and are continuing to take part in productions. Along with Georgie O’Reilly, in Year 12, and Mr Birdsall, Amelia and Freya are proud to be part of Richmond Operatic Society’s cast of Carousel, which takes place at the Georgian Theatre from 18^th-21^st May.

Amelia and Freya have shared their experiences of being in the Carousel production and how much they get out of being part of the ROS family.

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We were both involved in the choirs and dance shows at school and Amelia was in the Joseph school production. Then Covid hit, and we were feeling down as we weren’t able to go out and hadn’t been able to use our singing voices. Our new year’s resolution was to finally get out after lockdown, and join more groups, We looked to the Operatic Society as it involved performance and singing.

We were lucky to be cast after auditions and we are In the Ensemble so we are in lots of scenes and multi-role with different names. Amelia is playing a Beautie of Europe, A Girl, A Woman and a Star! Freya is playing a Carousel Dancer, a Woman and Carnival Boy! The rehearsals are mastering the singing and dancing, and it has certainly helped that whilst at school we both enjoyed, drama and dance.

This is the first time we have been in a Richmond Operatic Production. We started talking about joining after Amelia went to watch their production of the Adamms Family which she really enjoyed. She was so very inspired that it made her want to be a part of it, especially as she would like a career in performing arts too and wanted to be in a musical. As the show dates are getting closer, we are rehearsing three times a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Carousel is such an incredible musical and there are some fun dance routines in the show. We really like the singing – the songs are big! Our voices are being tested, but improving technically and we are inspired to be around everyone in such a talented environment and can’t wait to be on the Georgian Theatre stage.

Amelia thinks she may have a tear pricking in her eye when the song You’ll never walk alone is sung. One of her own lines is when she shouts “c’mon inside and leave these two love birds alone!” as the character Carrie wants to marry the respectable Mister Snow!

Freya and Amelia are currently at Darlington College where Freya studies Film and TV and Amelia is in the catering department.

Amelia and Freya Woodward