The Star Project refused to be defeated by ‘lockdown’ last week when they launched their first ever ZOOMSICAL! After an awesome term of delivering online pre-recorded and live classes the SP team wanted to go a step further and facilitate an online rehearsal and performance and it was a huge success!

13 Star Project Students rehearsed via the Zoom platform to create the ZOOMSICAL (Online Musical) “Lockdown Lane”. The piece was set on the street of Lansdown Lane and told the story of 13 young people who fight to get their street name back after the council wrongfully take it back and someone spray paints over their original sign. The piece covers issues that young people and the community are facing and lock down challenges such as, teenagers struggling with the lack of social interaction, the senior generation struggles to get food, mental health in people living alone and people losing dear family members.

The general thread and storyline was written by SP Director Jo Payne and the students were given the task with Jo’s guidance to write the scenes and develop the content, devising and working as a team.

The piece included 3 original songs written by Jo Payne and Gladstone Wilson and Sung by Bryony Rose Ward. “Lockdown Lane” “For Connie” and “Lockdown Lane Reprise”

 The students rehearsed for 9 hours in total, plus their own time in the evenings learning lines and song lyrics. They showed an incredible amount of commitment to the project and developed a real bond as a cast over the course of the 3 days.

The show consisted of their friends and family joining an online ZOOM show, entrances, exits, virtual backdrops to set the scenes, live singing and a dance number. All totally possible online! The majority of students joined from across the UK, but Director Jo Payne and one student took part from Toronto Canada. What an amazing way to bring young people together from all across the world.

At the end of the show the audience were invited to turn on their cameras, give a virtual round of applause and give the children feedback. The students were so incredibly buzzed from the whole experience they threw themselves their own virtual after show party that evening and some true friendships for life were formed.

HIRE THE SHOW

Due to the huge success of this week, Lockdown Lane The Zoomsical will shortly be available to purchase as a package for other theatre schools to use as a resource, either online or for when they can return to rehearsals. The website is still in design but when launched this will be found at www.zoomsical.co.uk. Please keep an eye out on our social media pages for the launch or drop us an email if you are interested in hiring this show.

GET INVOLVED!

The Star Project will be holding a second virtual workshop in July “Lockdown Lane 2″ This will take place during the summer holidays where the original cast plus 10 others will be invited to return again to devise and perform the second stage, making it a 60 minute show.

If you are interested in taking part in this workshop please email director@thestarproject.info to express interest and apply for a virtual audition.