Schoolgirl neighbours set to share West End stage (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Schoolgirl neighbours set to share West End stage

11:34am Wednesday 8th October 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

AN all-singing, all-dancing schoolgirl has landed a part in the hit West End musical Joseph.

And in an amazing coincidence, 11-year-old Maddie Wotherspoon will join her neighbour who is also in the show, and was featured in the Guardian a few weeks ago.

Maddie and Amy Lacy-Kerr, both of Rahn Road, in Epping, auditioned for a place in the Children’s Choir.

The St John’s School pupil said she had always wanted to perform at the theatre and found out she had been given the part during her lunch-hour at school.

She said: “My mum is a dinner lady and she gave me the letter at lunchtime. I was jumping up and down screaming.”

Her first show went without a hitch, but Maddie said a few of the girls were rather star- struck by Lee Mead who won his lead role in the show via the BBC reality television programme Any Dream Will Do.

“I haven’t actually spoken to him but he came into our dressing room once. Everyone was really excited and one girl started crying because she was so happy to see him. He’s really nice and winked at me when I came out on stage.”

But Lee will not play Joseph at the Adelphi Theatre for much longer, and plans to move on in January.

Maddie said: “It’s quite exciting because we’ll be the first to perform with the new Joseph. We don’t know who it is yet, but I’ve heard rumours it’s Zach Efron, from High School Musical.”

Performing three shows every other week, Maddie has had to adapt to starting secondary school and coming home late at night.

She said: “It’s quite difficult because I have more homework now I’m in secondary school. But the teachers are really nice about it and understand I can’t always get it done. My friends are also really supportive and don’t mind that I can’t come out.

“I was exhausted getting up this morning but it’s all worth it. It’s been my dream to be on stage since I was small and my first performance was amazing.

“When we did the dress rehearsal they used all the lights so it felt like a real show – at least I thought it felt like a real show. But actually it didn’t and when it was the real show it was completely different.”

The young star now has her heart set on a career in acting.

She said: “Now I’m in the choir I really want to play the narrator. I will probably wait a bit and do something else but I won’t wait too long because I will miss being on stage.

“I miss it now and it’s only been one day! Being on the stage is the best thing.”

For more information about Joseph the musical visit http://josephthemusical.com/