When the curtain rises at the Hippodrome Theatre for Matthew Bourne’s new dance Lord of the Flies, it will be a special moment for a group of local youngsters.
The 22 boys all underwent a rigorous audition process to gain a place in the cast and have been largely taught by two local dance ambassadors picked by Matthew’s team.
It means that the show, which comes to the Hippodrome on May 14 as part of , is more than just a piece of entertainment – it may also be a life-changing experience for some youngsters.
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Adapted and directed by Matthew Bourne and Scott Ambler, Lord of the Flies was first created in Scotland as part of a project to encourage boys into dance.
It was so successful that Bourne’s company New Adventures and its education arm Re:Bourne decided to roll the programme out to other cities including Birmingham, where they have been working in partnership with the Hippodrome.
Director and choreographer Scott Ambler says: “When we did this in Scotland it was terrifying, challenging, exciting and amazing.
“In that original group we had lads who had never danced before but they all discovered a love of dance. Two of the group went on to full time dance training and some of the other lads started their own little group to keep it going.
“They had found something they didn’t expect to find and for some it was life-changing.”
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The Birmingham project started last August when the two dance ambassadors, Luke Sheppard of Hodge Hill and Laura Bray of Codsall, Wolverhampton, were appointed.
Their role is to learn the choreography, hold workshops for hundreds of boys, organise auditions and then teach the chosen handful of boys their parts.
And Scott says the intentions are wide-reaching.
“We always do education projects when we tour but this is something different,” he says. “This isn’t a curtain raiser or a satellite project, these boys are integral to the production.
“They aren’t doing a bit of padding or a bit in the background – they are as much a part of the show as the professional dancers.”
The Birmingham cast is made up of boys aged 10 to 20, some of whom have plenty of dance experience and some of whom have very little or none.
“When we were auditioning we were looking for personalities,” says Scott. “We were looking for boys who were really passionate about wanting to be part of it, who really wanted to give it a go.
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“They are not necessarily the best dancers – they are the ones who stood out in that room and they are the ones who will get the most out of it.”
Basing the show on William Golding’s classic adventure story seemed an obvious choice, says Scott.
“Lord of the Flies is the ideal story for this. We want to blur the lines between the local lads and the professionals. We choreographed with that in mind, so that people won’t always be quite sure.”
Helping to ensure the local boys are honing their skills are the two dance ambassadors.
Laura, 22, and Luke, 24, began recruiting in January.
“We held workshops and drop-in sessions at the Hippodrome,” says Laura.
“We also went to colleges, schools, youth theatre groups and community centres to deliver male-only workshops. We saw around 500 boys.
“We’ve had lovely comments from some parents whose boys didn’t get into the final show, but who now want to go to dance lessons. That is what this project is about for us.
“Someone would always say that it was so nice to be dancing in a room full of boys because very often lads will be one of maybe four boys in an entire dance school.
“After the workshops we had an audition weekend in March where we whittled 120 boys down to the final 22.”
Laura is studying music at Surrey University while Luke, a graduate of Coventry University, works as a choreographer at Warwick Arts Centre.
Luke says of Lord of the Flies: “I hope people will see a spectacular show.
“It’s a big thing that we are using local lads but actually I would love them to come out and say ‘he couldn’t have been a local lad, he’s too good!’ and for us to say ‘actually he’s only this old, and he’s only been doing it for this long’.
“And young lads may watch the show and see one of the dancers and think ‘he’s only my age – maybe I could do that’.
“This show is not just about these 22 lads, it is about who else it can reach and make involved.”
For Birmingham Ormiston Academy student Ben Powney, Lord of the Flies is an opportunity to develop his skills and make contacts.
As the team’s dance captain, he is a supporting role to Laura and Luke.
The 17-year-old dance student of Solihull is keen to be a professional dancer and have his own studio.
Dereece Leigh-Gayle, aged 18, is studying performing arts at Halesowen College.
He says: “I didn’t think I would be one of the final 22. I’m not a dancer but I just tried my best, getting into character and really giving it everything.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have never performed on stage before so this will be the first time in front of lots of people.
“It is a bit scary but it’s exciting at the same time and I think it will push me towards what I want to do. It has changed my ideas as I would now like to do acting and dancing.
“I hope that when people see it they will enjoy it but also that they can see that everyone is capable of doing something brilliant. If people have the chance then it will happen.”
The show is a new direction for 20-year-old Hugo von Fragstein, who is currently studying with the Year Out Drama Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.
“I really love the freedom that dance brings,” he says.
“The best part of Lord of the Flies is the opportunity to perform at Birmingham Hippodrome. I may not consider myself a dancer but I can still become one and work alongside professionals and meet people who I might work with in the future.
“We have all got on really well. It is such an intense, emotional journey.
“I didn’t know the book beforehand but I bought it after I got the part. I loved the book and it is interesting how you relate to it when you are dancing it.
“Because it is a dance rather than a play or a musical, it can tap into more of its tribal instincts and the message of the story, which is quite a savage carnage, actually works better in dance. The score also helps as it is absolutely phenomenal. It is very percussive with some very strong beats.”
Harvey Powell, 13, from Coundon, in Coventry, says: “I am one of the lucky few and am really proud of it.
“There is continuous practice and I am thinking about this all of the time.
“I like all performing arts and this is fulfilling it. Coming to see shows at the Hippodrome and then being able to be on the stage here is something really amazing. Nearly all my family are coming and they have arranged a school trip to see me.”
* Lord of the Flies plays Birmingham Hippodrome from May 14-17. Call 0844 338 5000 or visit .