During July and August 2020, Pembrokeshire based Limelight School for Performing Arts, hosted a virtual summer school.

For five weeks students from across the UK took part in weekly hour-long workshops with a variety of performers, including West End professionals, an award-winning film director and an international renowned choreographer.

These students were taught dances from the West End musicals - Big, Starlight Express and Matilda.

They also undertook an acting for camera workshop and a session on how to choreograph a musical.

The culmination of the summer was a 5-day digital workshop with theatre composer and renowned singing teacher, Emma Trow; actor and puppeteer recently returned from the international tour of War Horse, Samuel Parker; choreographer and dancer, Finola Findlay (FF Dancers) and principal of the school, Musical Director, Angharad Sanders.

Students were given the option of filming their work in the final week to create a bespoke, original, concept musical, reflecting on their time in Lockdown.

The final video reflects the sheer passion, determination and talent that these young artists exude.

‘The Covid Chronicles’ is now available to watch on YouTube and showcases original choreography, song writing, puppetry, singing, acting and creativity in abundance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzCodb8nWoE&t=3s

Limelight School for Performing Arts was originally opened in Yorkshire, over 13 years ago.

As Principal Angharad Saunders was increasingly in demand around the world (spending four months of each year working in New York) in 2010, the school, sadly, closed its doors, until 2019!

Upon returning to Wales to settle with her new family, Angharad decided to reopen the school, offering tuition in singing, dance and acting, in Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

“The aim of the summer was to offer inspiration and creativity to all young artists with a passion to perform, and to support our performers and creatives in this time of crisis for the arts,” said Angharad.

“We were also extremely lucky to receive financial support for the project from very generous patrons from Wales, and the United States.

“This allowed Limelight to offer this workshop for the minimal cost to families, whilst supporting our professional artists.

“The outcome of the project was fantastic, and also allowed us to donate £200 to our local venue, the Torch Theatre, to support its work during this current time of closure,” she continued.

Following such a successful virtual summer school, and as we are heading into further lockdown measures in Wales, Limelight is proud to be hosting a poetry writing competition, open to anyone under the age of 18, and to be judged by composer/writer, Emma Trow and acclaimed published poet, Emma Bisson.

Each entrant must send their poem to the school before November 1 and the poem should be inspired by the theatre ghost light at Christmas.

The winning entry will be performed by the School’s Tuesday evening class in their winter cabaret, and they will receive bespoke artwork inspired by their written words, penned by West End star, Colin Burnicle.

For more information please contact Angharad on 07949 107365, or [email protected]

You can also check out: www.facebook.com/limelightpembs