WEST END FAN CHOIR - YOU WILL HEAR THE PEOPLE SING's memory board

Charlotte West Our first fundraisimg video, in aid of Acting For Others, and Help Musicians UK, raised £600, and has been viewed on YouTube over 3000 times. It features a mash up of Do You Hear The People Sing from Les Miserables, and You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen.

Charlotte West The West End Fan Choir Admin Team

Charlotte West CHARLOTTE WEST (West End Fan Choir Project Founder) I have always been into musicals, since the age of 11 when I successfully auditioned for a part in the opening show at my new local theatre. (an orphan in Annie!) I only went to the audition out of curiosity, I had never performed before, and didn't expect anything to come of it. I was born with a severe spinal deformity, and was sure my "face wouldn't fit." How wrong I was. I got the call that night to tell me I was in the show and from that moment on, my life changed forever. I fell head over heels for the show, the theatre, and the buzz of performing. I went on to do many more amateur shows, and a BTEC in Performing Arts. I found within myself a confidence I never thought possible. Onstage I wasn't "that girl with the bad back", I was me. I was free. And everyone in the industry accepted me. I knew I had found my home.  Musicals became my obsession, and as I'm sure you will understand, I find something within each one that resonates with my own life so deeply. Be it a song, a character, or a performer, each musical I see appears to tell my story, and gives me the acceptance I have always craved. Sadly these days performing has had to take a back seat as I can no longer physically cope with the demands of a full show. But I do belong to another choir for people with lung conditions (my spinal deformity has reduced my lung capacity to 36% and I sometimes have to use oxygen) and that gives me just enough of the performing buzz to keep me going.  So when I saw what COVID-19 has done to the industry, and the lives of the people that work in it, I was devastated. Theatre has got me through some of my darkest times (and still does today but that is another story), and I wanted to do something to help. Whilst the Show Must Go On merchandise is fabulous, buying that didn't feel like enough.  So I got talking to some other fans on Facebook and the idea for the first fan video was born, and with it, raising funds for the Theatre Support Fund, Acting For Others, and Help Musicians. I believe our just giving page raised over £600, and whilst this may be a drop in the ocean, I hope in some small way it helps. It sounds strange, but the message behind the 2 particular songs we chose, and that feeling of solidarity between us as fans, has kind of been more important to me. I truly believe musical theatre runs in my blood, and I cannot imagine my life without it. I hope the videos go some small way towards showing my thanks, and I hope you the industry know, that we as fans are all with you, and we cannot wait to be back when theatres are finally open once again!

Charlotte West LIN MCNEILL, THRAPSTON "There is nothing better than being part of a show whether it be a murderous play or an uplifting musical. Everything from the frustration of remembering lines, movements and props to the realisation you have captivated a whole auditorium and the euphoria of the applause at curtain call. To all those professional performers who are missing all this and more sadly struggling financially I say, hang on in there. Easier said than done I know but you are all talented creative people, you will find a way to get through this and hopefully we will all be able to enjoy theatrical arts once again sometime soon." Lin x

Charlotte West MIA ARDITI, BRIGHTON “There will always be a very special place in my heart for Musical Theatre. The joy I feel watching and being involved in it is incomparable to anything else. I have so much respect and love for every single performer, especially during such trying times. The community has never been stronger and it’s incredible to see such a creative bunch of people sticking together to support one another. The arts are so much more than standing on a stage performing, they require time, effort, passion and persistence and have one of the most competitive industries in the world. I truly hope every single performer struggling right now will be given the opportunity to shine as soon as possible... but until then just remember ‘you’ll never walk alone’! “ Hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year, Mia Arditi

Charlotte West EUAN PARKES, LIVERPOOL Hi, I'm Euan Parkes and I'm from Liverpool. I'm currently studying for a BA in Musical Theatre at LMA Liverpool. This year has been really tough for us all in the industry,  I miss being on the stage so much. I've been cast to play Shrek in July and September 2021, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that life will be more normal by then and that our theatres will once again be open. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and theatre packed New Year, let's hope it's a good one! x

Charlotte West ALANNA GERMON - UK I have been a theatre fan since I was took to panto by my Grandparents every year near Christmas. I got hooked on musicals when was took by parents  to see Cats in Manchester when was about 9 years old I was a dancer so they thought would enjoy the show I had played my mums soundtrack from Cat and Phantom of the Opera over and over again so knew all the songs. I have since seen too many musicals to list and make trips to London to see as many shows as can in a few days as my holidays.  I go to Manchester theatres as well as the Lowry on a regular basis have a ATG theatre card best card for me.  I feel at my happiest when at the theatre I have Fibromyalgia and mental health which means can't do things used to do like dancing. I grew up dancing Disco, Latin and Ballroom as well as singing in choir I was not confident due to being bullied as a child and adult so never did musical theatre as drama was not my thing but wish had done it when was younger.  Musicals make me forget my problems and sadness and is where I am at my most happy. I have missed it so much I have watched lots online but just does not give same emotions as live. As soon as is safe to do so I will be back at the theatre in my happy place.  I appreciate how much the Performers give their lives revolve around the theatre and they give their lives completely to perform and make us feel things whilst on stage.  I would not be as strong as I am without the theatre it shows me you can be who you are and be excepted.  I can never repay how much joy the Performers and anyone involved in putting on the shows have given me over the years.  Thanks Alanna Germon

Charlotte West VALERIE SUMMERS I fell in love with Musical Theatre at a very early age when my Grandparents used to take me to see the local Operatic Societies' productions of all the great Rogers & Hammerstein shows of the 1950s and I remember saying then that was what I would like to do. However, it took me until I was 40 to actually tread the boards but I've definitely made up for lost time since. I belong to several AmDram Societies and a Concert Party and it is an understatement to say it is the thing I love to do most in life along with going to see shows, both locally and in the West End. I have missed both very much this year and can't wait to resume my favourite hobby and feel again that special magic that live theatre can bring, both to the audience and performers. There really is "No Business Like Show Business" 😍

Charlotte West DUNCAN HOARE What does theatre mean to me? It means everything. It's the reason I get up, it's the reason that I go to college. It's the driving force behind my life and it fills me with joy and excitement. The moment I sit in that seat in a theatre and hear the overture I get goosebumps. I truly cannot express how much theatre means to me because it means everything.  Duncan Hoare

Charlotte West GRAEME LUKE Musical Theatre… A Real Passion I went to see my first London Musical in 1991 when Jason Donovan was playing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in the London Palladium and was totally hooked. Since that time until now I have seen almost every major musical that has graced the Westend and also all the touring productions that have appeared at the Edinburgh Playhouse in my hometown of Edinburgh. Probably among the best I have seen in London include the long running Starlight Express, The King and I, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray and The Wizard of Oz to name just a fraction. However, there is no doubt about my favourite and that is Wicked, I have seen it over 40 times in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and New York. So, lots of people wonder what is so special about Wicked and why I have seen the musical production so many times and why it has meant so much to me over the past 15 years since I first seen it in London in 2006. Well quite simply It tells a story of a person who everybody got all wrong and who only saw what they wanted to see or what other people told them. A person who did everything possible to be accepted despite huge opposition and challenges and sacrificed everything for friendship. For anyone who has, like me, experienced times in their life when they were unsure of the journey ahead or afraid how others might judge them for being who they are then this story provides a message that we all face personal struggles but faith and determination along with a superb family and amazing friends will always win through, So, I make no apology for my obsession with this superb story and can’t wait to get back to the Apollo for another helping. Graeme Luke

Charlotte West ANTHONY COLLINS My name is Anthony Collins I’m 26 and I started doing singing and acting from the act of 13 with my first proper show being The Mikado, since then I’ve done several of the Gilbert and Sullivan shows my favourite being Pirates Of Penzance, then I moved on to the more musical side with my first main role in RENT playing Mark Cohen to which I won an award for best leading male for the local area.  From then I have played several roles from Luke in The Addams Family, Pablo in Sister Act and most recently Pinocchio in Shrek. I’m a member of several musical society’s in my local area and I absolutely love it.  Since lockdown I’ve started up my own page on fancy to continue my music passion with my Ukulele, called ‘The Ukulele Wizard’ and have been doing a lot of covers, live streams and quite recently written a couple of original songs.  Also during this lockdown I managed to raise £942 for Mind, by shaving off my Afro which I had been growing since March.  I do look forward to when we can get back to the stage but performing with West End Fan Choir is a real treat because it’s bringing back that musical magic that we all miss.

Charlotte West SAMMY PICKARD Theatre It gives you a buzz, it transports you into a moment, a moment of serenity, emotion, and joy. It saddens you and uplifts you (sometimes all on one act)... For me theatre is not only a passion, but a happy place with a sense of belonging. I am at my happiest when at the theatre, when I can escape my adult problems and lose myself in the magic. Theatre is about people coming together, to produce, to perform to witness. So many people belonging together in a space. Theatre is my passion,my happy place, my life.