A Wicked Start to Our Spotlights Adventure
It has been a very exciting couple of days for Sefton Spotlights!
On Wednesday, we travelled to London to see Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Unfortunately, the workshop planned for the morning wasn’t able to go ahead, but the children coped brilliantly with the unexpected change of plan and we made the most of the extra time with a lovely lunch together in Hyde Park. We are looking into whether there may be an opportunity to offer the children a workshop experience at a later date.
The show itself was incredible and such a brilliant choice for our company to see as we begin work on The Wizard of Oz. Wicked really does show every element of stagecraft at its best: performance, music, choreography, lighting, costume, scenery, sound, special effects and stage management all combining to create something spectacular. There was a huge amount for our performers to enjoy, but also plenty for them to notice and bring back into our own rehearsal room.
The real highlight, though, came after the show when we stayed behind for a special Q&A with members of the Wicked company. We met the Stage Manager, Dr Dillamond, and two members of the ensemble, and it was probably the most special and exclusive experience we have ever been able to offer through Spotlights.
Our children asked some excellent questions and received some genuinely useful advice. We heard about the importance of physical and vocal warm-ups, and about the role of the ensemble, including the idea of an ensemble track: the particular journey one performer follows through a show, sometimes playing several different characters, with their own entrances, exits, costume changes, choreography and vocal parts.
The cast also talked about finding the truth and meaning in the words you are saying, rather than simply delivering lines; about how important collaboration is between performers and the whole creative team; and about the value of a director asking questions which help performers discover their own choices rather than simply telling them exactly what to do.
Mr Evergreen, take note…
Perhaps the most useful piece of advice of all was that the single most important skill for a performer is to listen: to each other, to the music, to cues, to themselves and to the creative team. That is definitely one we will be taking into rehearsals with us.
And today, the 2026 company came together for our first Wizard of Oz rehearsal.
With the whole cast together in their Spotlights T-shirts and scripts in hand, we completed most of our first full-company read-through. The energy from the Wicked visit definitely carried into the room, and it was great to hear the show beginning to take shape for the first time.
We’ll finish the final part of the script next week before beginning rehearsals in smaller groups, working on individual scenes, songs and choreography.
After a brilliant trip to London and a very exciting first rehearsal, it feels like The Wizard of Oz is properly underway.
We can’t wait to see where the Yellow Brick Road takes us next.
