Sunday Life, 19 June 2005

By Colin McAlpin

Fancy taking the first steps on the road to fame and fortune in the West End and Broadway?

Or do you simply love singing, dancing and acting?

Then it's time to give the Northern Ireland-based Musical Theatre 4 Youth a curtain call.

It's been set up to provide a "complement to existing musical societies, dance and drama organisations" through weekend workshops and performances under top international directors and choreographers.

And so exciting is the project, that Belfast's own star, Kenneth Branagh, has given it his enthusiastic support.

Indeed, Branagh's connection has underlined a long-time friendship with MT4Y co-founder, Jenny Cooke. Portrush-born Cooke first met him when she worked on the famous 'Billy' series, the gritty drama that launched Branagh's career.

Young stars between the ages of 11 and 21 will be given the opportunity to perform in a 'musical-in-a-weekend', in such hits as Les Miserables, Oliver, Jesus Christ Superstar and Oklahoma.

This year and next, MT4Y plans to run four such showcase sessions in venues across Ireland and Scotland, and the young performers will show off their talents at the opening of the Grand Opera House's New Studio Theatre in 2006.

Jenny formed MT4Y with West End director Vernon Mound, who has helmed Les Mis and Miss Saigon.

Already the project has enlisted the support of such local arts organisations as Dance Northern Ireland, The GOH, The Rainbow Factory, Helen O'Grady School of Drama and the Ulster Youth Orchestra.

Jenny, who was educated at Coleraine High School and in Dublin, is married with three children, and, after starting out with the BBC in Belfast, worked for several years in London on Blue Peter, Playschool and Playaway.

"I always felt there was an imbalance here between talent and opportunity," she says.

"While the talent is certainly here, the lack of professional theatre to aspire to, combined with the levels of excellence to participate in, prevents the level of achievement that is possible.

"As a result, a lot of our local talent leaves here to aspire to greater things. We hope to be able to offer the training through MT4Y in all skills of musical theatre, singing, dance and drama under one umbrella."

Adds Vernon: "Whether you dream of being a star on the stage, or just enjoy singing, acting and dancing, it's always difficult to know where to start. If you are mad keen on musicals and being on stage, then you will always be looking out for another opportunity ? and MT4Y will be there to provide it for you."

The work of MT4Y, says Jenny, gives youngsters "the confidence, self-worth and life skills needed in their educational development, and if they go on to a career in the performing arts, even better!"

The intention of MT4Y is not, she emphasises, to compete with organisations already in place, but to provide a platform on which to compete at a broader level.

"It offers everyone involved the adrenaline rush of achieving something special in a very tight time schedule, and leaves them eager to go on to the next stage."

Jenny and Vernon have lined up a formidable array of local musical, arts, drama and dance names for the MT4Y executive board, and plans are under way for more of the same in the coming years in such venues as Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh, Enniskillen and Dublin.

Jenny Cooke can be contacted on 028 93 340871 and 07811 500181 (e-mail: jc@ballyvoy.freeserve.co.uk).