Young Banbury performers ready for milestone show

A performing arts school for children and young people in Banbury is putting the finishing touches to their show-stopping production of The Wiz next month.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2016, 12:43 BST
Updated 24th Feb 2016, 12:45 BST
From L-R: Soraya Irvani, Jolene Venzi and Severina Young getting ready for Stagecoach Banbury's show-stopping performance of The Wiz. NNL-160224-133918001From L-R: Soraya Irvani, Jolene Venzi and Severina Young getting ready for Stagecoach Banbury's show-stopping performance of The Wiz. NNL-160224-133918001
From L-R: Soraya Irvani, Jolene Venzi and Severina Young getting ready for Stagecoach Banbury's show-stopping performance of The Wiz. NNL-160224-133918001

This year marks Stagecoach Banbury’s tenth anniversary and principal Melissa Allen and her students will perform on Saturday, March 19 at 7pm, at Blessed George Napier RC School on Addison Road.

Nearly 100 students from Stagecoach’s morning and afternoon schools will take part in the show, with Soraya Irvani, 13, Jolene Venzi, 15, and Severina Young, 14, set to play the lead roles of The Wiz, The Scarecrow and Evillene.

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Melissa said: “Ten years have gone by so quickly. Setting up my school in Banbury was definitely the right choice and BGN School, with its stage and other facilities, is a great venue both for school and shows.

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Everyone is working so hard to make this show spectacular to celebrate our first decade. I’m very proud of all my students and teachers and am already feeling emotional.”

In recent years, Stagecoach Banbury has performed shows including Disney’s Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Seussical, Into the woods, Guys and Dolls, Annie, High School Musical 1 and 2 Disney’s Jungle Book and Alice in Wonderland.

Soraya, who has been with Stagecoach for almost two years and will play the role of The Wiz, said: “I’m so excited to be playing The Wiz. I love the music and the story. I’m rehearsing at home every day and luckily, have a basement bedroom so can sing as loudly as I need to without bothering our neighbours!”

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Jolene, a Stagecoach veteran of six years added: “I am thoroughly excited and motivated to be in The Wiz, especially because for the first time, we’ll be performing with a professional band which is an amazing opportunity. It will be an experience to remember!”

To celebrate the school’s milestone Ms Allen said the group is offering to perform segments of the show throughout the year at various shows in Banbury.

She said: “Due to relatively limited capacity of our venue, we’re only able to offer show tickets for students’ families. However, we’d be delighted to perform segments of the show throughout the year at Banbury highlights such as The Town Mayor’s Show/Hobby Horse, Canal Day, charity events etc. If anyone would like us to perform, just get in touch.”

For more details visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/banbury

Related topics:BanburyStagecoach