Back to the top

Uncategorized

First film acting reel….

This was lots of fun. I was asked by a friend who I went to Craven College with many years ago, Sam Jewitt, to do an acting show reel with him. It was his project and I was delighted he wanted me to be involved. We spent a windy morning in Manchester by the canal and produced a short 3 1/2 minute film. Having done focused on musical theatre, I wanted to ensure that I didn’t over act this part, there was no coming on with ‘jazz hands’ and it was quite a serious script, so lots to think about. But I loved it and I am proud of my performance, I thought it was good for a first stab at an acting reel.  Check it out on my video page here

First Solo Gig for Cancer Research UK…

On Friday 19th April, we held an event at the Heaton Tennis & Squash Club to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and I was the live entertainment for the evening, which was called “Sensational Singing Sophie”.

Over 100 people attended, the event started at 8pm and 24 songs later we had raised over £1500 for CRUK. Each song was sponsored and most songs were chosen by the sponsor too, so there were quite a few to learn.

We had a raffle and an auction and a great buffet was provided by Chef T.

Here are just a few cuts from some of the songs nominated on the evening.

A great time was had by all…and it was all for a good cause.

 

Graduation at the Royal Academy of Music…

On Sunday 24th October I graduated with a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London. It was a fabulous ceremony and one I will always remember, along with fellow students it was attended by lots of dignitaries and honorary members of the academy. It was also attended by Michael Ball, who did a great motivational speech about the industry he has worked in for over 40 years and one I am about to join professionally. I was also delighted to be given a special award for going ‘above and beyond’ in my studies at the academy which apparently looked at my work ethic and teamwork alongside performance improvements.

West End Debut … The Garrick Theatre, London

I’m so excited to have been invited to sing a newly written song by Musical Directors Natalie Pound and Sam Young who I worked with at the Royal Academy of Music. The Chamber Musical Sessions is to take place at The Garrick Theatre in Londons West End on the 4th October 2021 at 7.30pm.

Fifteen of the most talented writing teams in the UK will be there showcasing an array of new songs from the chamber musicals they are writing and an array of West End Stars will be performing them. I’m so honoured, albeit a little nervous, to be making my West End debut at this prestigious event in such a special theatre. But I’ve received the song and it’s so beautiful that I am going to focus on making a special delivery in just over a weeks time.

BIG THANK YOU to Natalie and Sam for entrusting me to premiere their new song….

Final Show at the Royal Academy done!

Covid may have restricted the audience quite severely but it didn’t stop the show going on. It was an honour to perform in the Wedding Singer at the Royal Academy of Music Theatre in August. It was my last show as part of the RAM Family as I have now completed my MA in Musical Theatre.  Directed by Bruce Guthrie, I was delighted to play both the lead, Julia and on other nights a number of really comedic ensemble characters.  It was such fun, hard work, but I loved every minute.

  

Lead in The Wedding Singer….

Busy rehearsing for our end of year show, The Wedding Singer, to be performed 12-14th August at the Susie Sainsbury Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

I was so delighted to have been selected to play the lead female, Julia in The Wedding Singer, a romantic comedy based on the 1998 film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. It became a musical and ran on Broadway from 2006. It’s based in New Jersey, so I’ve had to focus on that accent and whilst I play Julia for two of the shows I also play Julia’s Mum Angie, a fighting bride and a Cher tribute act in the other four shows, so there’s been a load to learn.

Once again, disappointed that due to Covid, our audience for the show in this beautiful theatre will be really restricted, but there will be important people watching that could influence my future career in this world of performance, so I am giving it my all and really enjoying the whole process in rehearsals and the challenge.

2021 Showcase ‘The Story Goes On’…

As usual, at the end of our Musical Theatre Masters year at the Royal Academy of Music, we performed a showcase where agents would, under usual circumstances, be invited to attend to see each of us perform a song that expresses our singing strengths/genre.

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, we were unable to do this show ‘live’ and it had to be delayed until June. However, we still did it and filmed it, which was another experience with cameramen constantly on the stage with us during the performance.

After much deliberation, as I am as strong in falsetto as in belt so it was hard to choose a song that showed both options, I selected a song called ‘The Story Goes On’ by Sutton Foster, from BABY, the musical. It’s a challenging song but I hopefully did it credit and the clip of my song is now part of my showreel for potential agents to view on my personal Spotlight account.

Tell ’em things they don’t know – Stephen Sondheim

I was delighted to perform in a concert of songs by Stephen Sondheim this week ‘Tell Em Things They Don’t Know – held at the Suzie Sainsbury Theatre at The Royal Academy of Music in London.  I sang ‘So Many People’ a beautiful song he wrote as part of Saturday Night, arguably his first musical that was scheduled to run on Broadway in 1954.

It was our first concert as part of our Masters in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), we were scheduled to do it pre-Xmas but due to Covid-19, it was delayed and performed with an audience of very limited numbers.

It was however an honour to be part of it, his music and storytelling ability through lyrics are simply brilliant and I loved every minute of both the rehearsals and performance.  Just wish my family could have been there to see all my colleagues and me perform it in such a lovely setting…

   

Adaptation of The Caucasian Chalk Circle…

with music from Pippin the musical and Directed by Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy. This was our first key performance project at the Royal Academy of Music and such a great experience to work with this leading industry Director. It was a devised piece combining the script from The Caucasian Chalk Circle with the music from Pippin the Musical. I played Natella Abashwili, a great challenge for me as it was the first time I have played the role of a villain and it was great fun to play someone so different.

The performance had the added complication of Covid-19 so we performed with no touch and with full masks and no audience. It was instead filmed so interesting to review it afterwards….

Now living in London ready to start Drama school…

At the beginning of this week I moved to London from my home town of Bingley in West Yorkshire. I’m now living close to the Royal Academy of Music in Marylebone ready to start my Masters Degree next week. I am so looking forward to this year of study, improving my skills in readiness to start working in the industry in 2021.

So excited to meet with my course colleagues and get started.

 

 

Load More
© Copyright Sophe Holdsworth