Genesis Youth Theatre ’s production of The Wrong Way Round at Wellington Arts Centre opens tonight (Wednesday) for a run of just five performances.
This is the second production of the year following the group’s Beauty and the Beast which delighted audiences in May.
In once again choosing a proven script (it is written by Steve Titford and Ben O’Hare), rather than one devised by the young people themselves, the team has in its hands a truly appealingly outrageous narrative.
It combines elements of humour, mystery, the supernatural, villains aiming for world domination via the dastardly use of … slime, pupils as heroes, teachers who are not as they seem and … more slime!
And the outcome is a fizzing, exuberant mix of plot, music, dance and the bizarrely ridiculous – designed to surprise and entertain.
The young people in the cast – all between the ages of 11 and 16 – have more than dialogue to grapple with in this production.
There’s musical numbers, choreography, quite complex scene-changes, props, costumes and characterisation – much of it requiring exaggerated physical expression.
The more experienced members of the cast lead the way confidently, and with marked expressiveness, while the younger ones – some of whom are tackling their first stage performance – will have learned so much from them and from being involved.
The company are again led by a very supportive and multi-talented team from the more senior ranks at Wellington Arts Association’s performance groups.
Director Carrie Groves, Musical Director Kiera Chard and Choreographer Kit Sells are joined by a backstage team, none of whom feature in the curtain call but all of whom deserve a round of applause of their own.
The Wrong Way Round, as a title hints, at things being in the wrong order or reversed but the outcome as a production is likely to be very much the right way round – with young performers being led and encouraged to shine, to make use of their developing talents and boundless energy – and to enjoy the process of creating a performance.
The Wrong Way Round is at Wellington Arts Centre from tonight until Saturday at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday.
Book your tickets here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wellingtonartscentre
