AT the tender age of just 15 Katie-Rose Williams is set to perform as a featured dancer alongside an all-adult cast in the Stephen Sondheim classic, Company The Musical’ on what Katie describes as “the best stage in the country”.
Company will be on from May 1-4 at Belfast’s Grand Opera House, and the GCSE student is intense rehearsals – as well as her exam revision.
And, as mum Clair explained Katie is taking this on, despite having ADHD.
“I am so proud of all my children, but Katie-Rose hasn’t let having ADHD stop her,” she said. “She just gets on with it. She’s always learning and is happy. She knows what she wants to do and where she’s heading.”
For Newtownards born Katie that goal is ultimately theatre school, once she gets through her A levels, but she knows the dedication required to succeed.
“It can be difficult doing so many extra things out of school, but I work hard at school. I do lots of classes during the week,” Katie-Rose said. “Tuesdays are my only day off.
“On average 18 hours a week is spent at classes that’s not including the travel time. If it’s a ‘theatre week’ this can be many more.
“I have had to miss a few classes over the past couple of months due to the work I need to do for my GCSE’s.
“But, all the teachers in my drama/dance life understand that it’s important to me to do well in school in order to gain a place in a theatre college.”
To land the part of not only part of the ensemble, but as one of the featured dancers is by any stretch of the theatrical imagination an enormous achievement.
“When I heard I was cast in the ensemble in Company the Musical I was thrilled,” she said. “My audition obviously went well. This is it, my first ever role in an adult cast.
“I was nervous, excited and happy the director trusted me to perform with the wealth of experience that I am now rehearsing alongside.
“Since starting rehearsals I am now involved in more of the dance numbers as a featured dancer. I still can’t quite believe I’m performing on the Opera house stage either. I’m very excited. I am learning so much with all the cast, they all have such a wealth of experience I can only dream of.”
But Katie-Rose, who now lives in Lisburn, is no stranger to the stage, having performed in panto at eight-years-old and was the dance captain assisting the choreographer for “Phantom” in the JH Academy production of Phantom of the Opera.
Mum Clair is aware of how much Katie-Rose puts in to her on stage ambitions
“As a parent you try your best to find things your children like to do based on their personality,” she said. “Katie-Rose and her sister were always singing so we enrolled them in a children’s’ drama group.
“They loved it her sister now is only interested in the singing and is a classical singer studying A level music. Where Katie-Rose really enjoyed the whole stage performance especially the dancing.
“This is when the dancing took over and she competed successfully for 5 years. Only last year she decided to leave competitive dance and concentrate on her career and gaining graded exams.
“In three months, she has learned the syllabus and routines for grade 8 jazz exam and now working toward grade 6 musical theatre covering all aspects.”
And, Katie-Rose will have the support of school friends as well as her family.
“My friends are excited for me, especially the ones that would love a theatre career,” she said. “They know what it means to be on the best stage in the country. I hope they all get a chance to be on it as well someday.
“A good number of my friends have tickets to watch Company as we have another friend in the production and two of our teachers from the JH Academy are in the musical too.”
Of course, mum is making sure she won’t miss a minute.
“I can’t wait to watch the show, I have tickets for all nights,” Clair said. “I’m so proud of her and all she’s achieved at 15. Although I’m sure she sees me only as taxi driver most of the time!”
First unleashed on the world in 1970 Company showcased Sondheim’s comedic take on the evolving nature of relationships amongst the Baby Boomer generation, as the Hippy movement was challenging traditional marital status.
Darren Gardiner of LSFX Productions said Company was a show he had longed to bring to the Belfast stage.
“When Sondheim released it, Company confronted so many assumptions about what was considered the norm in America at the time with his typical aplomb,” he said. “To shake up the middle classes in the United States he used wit and music.
“And, the messages still hold true today. I’m sure that all our cast, under the direction of James, will bring the production values of the West End to the Opera House stage.”
Director James Huish, whose previous sell-out Les Miserables show in 2016 at the Great Victoria Street venue earned critical acclaim, is determined to showcase the many facets of Company.
“On one level we follow the 35-year-old Robert as he ponders whether to be happy alone or try to conform and find a romantic partner,” said James. “On another level Sondheim challenges what we understand about the traditions that we take for granted.
“But above all, no matter what messages you take from it, Company is great fun with great songs.”
Including ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’, ‘Side by Side, by Side’ and ‘Sorry – Grateful’ all the tracks will be familiar, but all are woven into the contemplative life of Robert with the mishaps and mayhem of himself and the anarchic relationships of his friends.
More information – including how to book tickets – can be found at: https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/companythemusical