Schoolgirls set to share stage with former Steps star Faye

Cerys Tinney, a second year pupil at St Luke’s High School, will star alongside the likes of former Steps singer Faye Tozer as she performs in ‘Movies to Musicals’ at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

She will also be joined by her friend Mia Currie, who attends classes with Cerys at Gillian Anderson’s Le Dance Studio, in Barrhead.

This will be the second year in a row that the talented duo have taken part in the show, which is organised by Ross Gunning, conductor of the Glasgow Philharmonia Orchestra.

Also included in the cast are former A1 boyband singer Ben Adams and Broadway star Kerry Ellis, who has played lead roles in musicals such as Wicked, Les Miserables, We Will Rock You and Cats.

As well as performing at one of Glasgow’s iconic entertainment venues, Cerys and Mia have secured a slot at the Edinburgh Fringe for one night only, performing at Greyfriars Kirk on Friday, August 21.

Cerys, 13, said she can’t wait for the curtain to rise.

“Doing Movies to Musicals in 2019 was one of the best experiences I ever had,” she told the Barrhead News.

“I’m so grateful that, this year, I’m getting the chance to be part of it again and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe too.

“It’s also great to make these memories with one of my best friends, Mia.”

Cerys and 12-year-old Mia, from Paisley, have been close pals for years and attend a variety of dance and performance classes at Le Dance Studio, including musical theatre, tap and ballet.

Mia Currie in a stage production of Mary Poppins

It was the guidance of Gillian and her team at the Barrhead studio that led the girls to audition for the sell-out Movies to Musicals show last year.

This time around, the girls were among 170 talented young performers who took part in auditions, with only 37 being chosen.

Rehearsals began in October, with Cerys and Mia busy learning to perform various numbers from hit musicals such as Billy Elliot, Shrek, Hairspray, Thriller, The Lion King and The Rocky Horror Show.

This weekend, they will head to Ardentinny, on the west shore of Loch Long, for a four-day residential trip that will see them take part in intensive rehearsals ahead of the show.

The girls will focus on dancing and singing, as well as learning to do stage make-up and create costumes.

Movies to Musicals can be seen at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Friday, February 21, starting at 7.30pm, with tickets priced from £25.30.

For more information or to book tickets, call the box office on 0141 353 8000 or go online at www.glasgowconcerthalls.com.

After the performance at the Edinburgh Fringe, the show will go on a three-night run in September that will call at Cumnock Town Hall, Airdrie Town Hall and Larbert Town Hall.