Theatre / Features
Community choir brings ‘colour and zest’ to Tobacco Factory Theatres production
Sinking into a sofa backstage at the Tobacco Factory Theatres, four friends are in celebratory mood. They have just come off stage from Beautiful Thing where they are part of a community choir made up of 50 people from across Bristol.
The choir has been together since the end of May in singing workshops and rehearsals in preparation for the production, in which they join the cast of five professional actors in a show that runs until October 27.
“It’s like you’re one big family,” explains 64-year-old Jacquie Stephens, one member of the choir. “I have changed enormously since the beginning of this as I don’t tend to get involved with people much anymore.”
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“It has just been so wonderful. the group and the team have been amazing. I think it’s given me back my confidence.”
The community choir in rehearsal – photo by Mark Dawson
For each performance, 25 members of the choir are on stage, with their “force as a choir (adding) new vitality to the transitions between scenes, helping create an evocative story-telling atmosphere” according to Beautiful Thing assistant director Sally Wippman.
“Having the community involved in such a prominent way in the production always adds colour and zest to the play,” Sally adds.
With a beaming smile still across her face half an hour after the standing ovation at the press night of Beautiful Thing, Marie-Annick Gournet, 53, an academic from St George, says that she feels “absolutely fantastic” following her first ever time on stage.
“We run a gauntlet of emotions,” she says. “I’m just so pleased for everybody. Everyone has been so great and supportive.”
The choir on stage – photo by Mark Dawson
For 27-year-old Daniel Templeton, the choir has been about companionship.
“I have learned a lot,” he says. “We look out for each other. There are people in this choir who have never sung before and we have supported each other all the way through.
Steve Roser, 61, a retired academic from Montpelier, says that the mixture of the community choir and professional actors is a “wonderful combination”.
He adds: “In our society we divide people up by class, gender and more. Here, there is no division. That’s what makes it so special.”
Beautiful Thing is at the Tobacco Factory Theatres until October 27. For tickets and more information, visit www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/beautiful-thing
Main photo (left to right): Marie-Annick Gournet, Daniel Thompson, Jacquie Stephens and Steve Roser
Read more: Review: Beautiful Thing, Tobacco Factory Theatres
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