FOUR HUNDRED young performers from Stagecoach Oxford centres stepped into the limelight on Sunday night for a charity musical extravaganza.
The youngsters, aged from four to 19, played roles in Looking for Elvis, a variety show epic penned by Stagecoach principal Maya Sprigg.
They performed to a sellout audience at the New Theatre after three months of rehearsals, raising about £20,000 for charities across the county.
Proceeds will be split between Oxfordshire charity Rosy, which provides respite care to children suffering terminal illnesses, and Maggie’s cancer support centre at the Churchill Hospital in Headington.
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Harry Pudwell, 18, from Blackbird Leys, took on the role of villain M1, who bore more than a slight resemblance to Darth Vader.
Harry Pudwell, 18, who played the villain M1.
He said: “It was challenging to play the villain. I’ve only been the comic, the best friend or the drag act before.
“It was fun. I’m also the first person in history to have a lightsaber battle with Elvis.”
Harry has attended Stagecoach for 10 years and studies performing arts at Abingdon and Witney College.
He said: “I would love to be an actor. I hope to go to a drama school in London and then to the West End.”
Referencing sci-fi classics from ET to Star Wars, the plot saw ‘Elvis’, played by Benjamin Ashton, crash land on Earth.
He is recruited by a school for their afternoon entertainment, but comes head-tohead with evil megalomaniac M1, who is determined to capture the alien and use him to seize power.
The script and songs were adapted by director Steve Dineen for a large cast. All students from Stagecoach Oxford’s five centres took part.
The Stagecoach company and Ben Ashton as Elvis.
Principal Ms Sprigg, who has run Stagecoach Oxford for more than 20 years, said: “Our older students carry the major roles and the others come in in waves to provide the chorus and advance the plot.”
Benjamin, 17, who lives in Worminghall, had never played a lead before taking on the role of Elvis.
He said: “It was tiring but really good. I was apprehensive about such an iconic character, but I really enjoyed it.”
Benjamin, who is studying A-Levels at Aylesbury Grammar School, has been involved with Stagecoach for 13 years and was joined onstage by Kitty Brown, 18, from Witney, who played class assistant and love interest Sandra.
Stagecoach Oxford holds a large-scale charity event every two years.
Ms Sprigg added: “The kids have been great.
“They went out and got sponsorship themselves.”
She added: “When Stagecoach get behind a project, we really get behind it.”
For more information about classes, see stagecoach.co.uk/oxford
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