Songs For A New World

MEET THE CAST: Hear My Song performed by Katie Hughes, Shauna Martin and Katie Poole

Katie Hughes:
Favourite thing about your character?

The favourite thing about my character is her calming and positive attitude towards the future, no matter how scary it can be. She’s the optimistic mother figure we all need.

Describe your song in 5 words

Optimistic outlook on the future

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This musical is important to me because the thought of ending uni and moving onto a career is scary so the themes of hope, strength and optimism in this musical reminds me that even when things get tough, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel!

Shauna Martin:
Favourite thing about your character

My favourite thing about my character is that she is full of hope. She believes in silver linings and tomorrow is always a fresh start.

Describe your song in 5 words

Hopeful, ambitious, lullaby, soul-baring, purpose

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

The musical centres around new beginnings and hope for a better place. Covid-19 was hard on everyone and a musical about hope could be just what we need at this time.

Katie Poole:
Favourite thing about your character?

She believes in a better world coming at any moment; that tomorrow will always bring a better day.

Describe your song in 5 words

Hopeful plea for new beginnings

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This musical’s all about hope and new beginnings, which I feel we’re all pining for at the moment.

MEET THE CAST: Flying Home performed by Bradley Meadows

Favourite thing about your character?

His ability to prove his worth and succeed despite the setbacks he’s had.

Describe your song in 5 words

Uplifting, journey, worthy, belief, truthful

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

We are just about to graduate in uncertain times especially for our industry in which we are having to make really difficult decisions which will effect how we live our lives and treat our peers and how we work in years to come.

MEET THE CAST: The Flagmaker, 1775 performed by Chardai Shaw and Liv Light.

Chardai,
Favourite thing about your character?

She is resilient and selfless, she will always put others before herself

Describe your song in 5 words

Hopeful, dramatic, chaotic, thought-provoking and strong

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This musical is important at this time in our lives because everyone can relate to the songs in their own individual ways. The show is also full of hope and looking forward, and at this time it is so important to look forward at what this new world will be when we reach the other side.

Olivia:
Favourite thing about your character?

Her determination and hopefulness that everything will work out

Describe your song in 5 words

Tragedy, resilience, powerful, emotional, empathetic

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

Each song has lots of different interpretations which can be applicable to the new situations we face, we can either get into a rut and feel hateful towards the new world or embrace it with open arms and appreciate life more.

MEET THE CAST: I’d Give It All for You performed by Megan Cooke and Emily Richardson

Megan:
Favourite thing about your character?

She’s very strong and chose to live her dream

Describe your song in 5 words

Romantic heart-warming hopeful passionate and real

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

It’s important because we are about to be entering “a new world” when things go back “normal” but that way of life isn’t normal anymore

Emily:
Favourite thing about your character?

My favourite thing about my character is her devotion to what she wants and the things she loves.

Describe your song in 5 words

Hopeful, nostalgic, romantic, emotional, real.

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

The musical holds a lot of hope towards a better future or the want to change your life in your desired way. I think this hope is important especially at the moment where everything’s so uncertain. The belief that we can achieve what we want despite the times is important to hold with us as we navigate through our new world.

MEET THE CAST: King of the World performed by Thea Hughes

Favourite thing about your character?

How passionate they are despite being in such a dark place

Describe your song in 5 words

Defiant, containment, isolation, desperation, powerful

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This musical displays real life themes, issues and decisions. It’s inevitable we’ve all faced at least one of these, making it extremely relatable and relevant to the world we’re living in now.

MEET THE CAST: Christmas Lullaby performed by Mafalda Duarte Galo Louro.

Favourite thing about your character?

her strength and faith

Describe your song in 5 words

hope, love, bravery, motherhood and god

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This musical offers us courage and strength to face new challenges and embrace the unknown, while also providing us with a positive message and energy to help us get through this hard period of our lives.

MEET THE CAST: Surabaya-Santa performed by Samara Henry-Riding

Favourite thing about your character?

The LAYERS to her!! The character is NOT what she seems at first glance 👀

Describe your song in 5 words

Sassy hilarious bold sad festive

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This musical is SO important for us as we have put our show together with people being ALL over the world & in a national lockdown. It shows the power of performing arts, that we have all come together even if we aren’t in the same room. The message of how a singular moment/ decision can change your life is so relevant and true for us all now ✨

MEET THE CAST: The World Was Dancing performed by Matthew Browne

Favourite thing about your character?

He is helping me showcase a different performance style that I havent done before.

Describe your song in 5 words

On a journey to find happiness

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

Because were going out into adulthood and it gives us aims and goals in the future that we can aspire to succeed in!

MEET THE CAST: Steam Train performed by Timothy Joannou

Favourite thing about my character?

Is that he had a tough childhood and he’s grown up to want to fight to do whatever he can to achieve his dream.

Describe your song in 5 words?

fun, energetic, driven, powerful and Charismatic.

Why is this musical important at this point in our lives?

It’s important because through the time of Covid everyone has had to come together to overcome the struggle and fight to get out of it. This will then lead everyone to go into a new world and explore new opportunities in life.

MEET THE CAST: She Cries performed by Lewis Tulloch.

Favourite thing about your character?

His journey through his song, his growth, new found strength and self discovery

Describe your song in 5 words

Uplifting, Strong, Powerful, hopeful and empowering

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This show is so important now because it reminds us all that the sun will rise on a new world and there is always hope we share together 💛

MEET THE CAST: Stars and the Moon by Erato Demetriadou, Stella Xu, Rainey Xia.

(Erato)
Favourite thing about your character?

She wants and admires a life with love, feelings and adventure, even if she doesn’t have it. Also I like the fact that she is honest with herself and realised that money can not buy happiness.

Describe your song in 5 words

Love, experience, relationships, realisation, regret

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This musical reflects what is going on in our lives at the moment. Things are changing very fast. Just one moment can change something very important in our lives and this requires a lot of decisions to be made! At this hard times, many people are changing directions in life (due to COVID disadvantages), and that needs courage, confidence and braveness to move us forward !

Rainey
Favourite thing about your character?

I think she is a really planned person, she know what she want for now, she push herself to do the thing she actually not really love it, this kind of perseverance I really can learn from her.

Describe your song in 5 words

Love, Soul, Believe, Dream, Life

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

I’m always thinking that the ‘art’ is impartibility of our life, especially the hard time, the musical healing ours hearts, can bring the hope and happiness to this hard life, it is too important to have something happy during hard work. So that’s why I feel musical really needed in my life, also in ours life.

The River Won’t Flow, performed by Kayleigh Sparks and Chelsea Lagan.

(Kayleigh’s)
Favourite thing about your character?

I love how free spirited and confident my character is

Describe your song in 5 words

fun, energetic, jazzy, hopeful, and optimistic

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

This show shows how everyone’s going through different things and different stages of their life and this show shows so many different peoples stories.

(Chelsea’s)
Favourite thing about your character?

The most favourite thing about my character is the freedom of choice. Originally in the production, my character was nameless, this allows me to have the freedom to explore most possibilities and different creative paths during the rehearsals and performance, creating a unique character and adding my own flare.

Describe your song in 5 words

Free-Spirited
Vibrant
Jazzy
Alive
Bright

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

Each number from the musical inspires and provokes emotion, connecting a global audience that can relate to the piece, with each other, and to the stories that are being told. Storytelling through song has the potential and power to stay with someone, longer than perhaps a monologue or speech would.

MEET THE CAST: I’m Not Afraid of Anything by Ella Hill

Favourite thing about your character?

My favourite thing about my character is her ability to be a strong woman, who doesn’t let much phase her. She is very independent and would describe herself as fearless’

Describe your song in 5 words

Powerful, Self-sufficient, purposeful , bold, enthusiastic

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

For me, the musical has a strong sense of decision making, paired with the uncertainty that it may bring. From exploring the show, I have realised the importance of always being brave and making the most of new opportunities given.

MEET THE CAST: Just One Step performed by Anya Stromberg

Favourite thing about your character?

She’s loud, attention seeking and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her and by the end of the number is ready to be independent and take charge of her future.

Describe your song in 5 words

brash funny sneering loud dramatic

Why is this musical important at this time in our lives?

It’s a show that discusses the highs and lows of life as well as a hope for the future which, at a time where theatres and performing careers have been put on hold, is a relevant topic to address!

Here’s one of our Gorgeous duet numbers in the show, who’s brought their tissues ? 😭

Our soloists have been working very hard on their songs, who’s excited to see the show? Not long now!

Loving being in the Preston Playhouse so lucky to have this space to rehearse in! ✨

Heading into a new week with SFANW in the Preston playhouse Theatre! Here’s some rehearsal photos for our amazing opening number last week in the studio with Jo McShane.

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