Stratford
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They got all dressed but had nowhere to perform
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| This group of enthusiastic youngsters have talent in droves, but nowhere to perform in Waltham Forest |
AN arts summer school for young people was forced to put on its showcase in Stratford because there was no suitable space in Waltham Forest.
Stratford Circus in Theatre Square hosted the performance to show off the skills learned by 29 Waltham Forest youngsters who had slaved away over the summer to study dancing, singing and acting.
Many of the stars of the show had no previous experience of performing before the course, which was funded by the borough's youth services department and run by Red Onion Studios in Hatherley Mews, Walthamstow.
Red Onion director Dee Curtis said: "I'm so angry that we had to go to Stratford.
"We wanted to use the Waltham Forest Theatre, but we were not able to use it.
"Masquerade 2000 was using it to prepare for the Notting Hill Carnival, and there was nowhere else."
Ms Curtis said that logistically it was difficult mounting the show in Stratford, but that staff were supportive in a way which rarely happens in Waltham Forest, and the show was fantastic.
As well as performers, it showcased the budding talent of Christina Hayfron, a student from the borough on placement from Bournemouth University, who wrote the script.
Artistic director Sam Francis said: "It is such a shame that there is lack of support for the performance arts and a well-equipped theatre big enough and affordable enough to put on a professional production in the Waltham Forest."
Chairman of Waltham Forest Arts Council Tim Bennet-Goodman, who was in the audience, agreed.
"While I was delighted that this show was enabled by our borough, I was frankly ashamed that it had to be performed in a neighbouring one for lack of suitable venues at home.
"What sort of message does this send out to our young people and their supporters? Our talented youngsters should be nurtured on their own home turf, where they should be able to be seen performing," he said.
This was the first time that the summer school has run, and it was oversubscribed, with Red Onion taking on five more youngsters than originally planned.
Ms Curtis said that it was fantastic that the course was funded by the council but added: "We need something like Stratford Circus in the borough. We need a performance space."
l A performance space for Waltham Forest is one of the suggestions from readers for the redevelopment of the Arcade site in Walthamstow. See pages 8 and 9.
5:00pm Wednesday 13th September 2006
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