Kendal's White Christmas Blog
11-year-old StageWise student Kendal Boardman is currently rehearsing to share the role of Susan in Irving Berlin's White Christmas at Plymouth Theatre Royal and The Lowry in Salford.
Kendal is keeping a diary of her experiences rehearsing and performing with the likes of Aled Jones, Adam Cooper and Suzanne Shaw exclusively for the MTA web site. The following is all in Kendal's own words and will be updated continuously during the production.
Thursday 3 September
Phone call: I was at home watching telly when the phone rang and my Dad answered it. I could tell that it was Barry from Mainstream and wondered why he had phoned. When Dad put the phone down he and Mum told me Barry had suggested I go to an audition for a big show and the auditions were being held at The Lowry. Mum and dad asked if I wanted to go for it, and I said "yes" right away!
Saturday 5 September
Auditions: Got up early; had to be at The Lowry for 9 o'clock for the auditions. I'm excited and a little bit nervous. I had found out by now that the show was White Christmas, a production that was costing millions and was starring Aled Jones and Suzanne Shaw.
Arrived at the theatre and registered my name and went to sit down in the café area. There were about twenty-five others there for the audition. A man called David Bell from the production company came in and introduced himself and told us what the day was going to be like.
First, we all went in together and had to sing Happy Birthday as a group and then on our own. The three judges David Morgan the director, Helen Rymer the choreographer and David Bell the co-ordinator took four out and that left sixteen including me. Then we had to go back in and learn Susan's (that's the part) solo number "Let Me Sing and I Am Happy". Next we had a break but they gave us a part of the script to learn and they said we had to do it in an American accent!
We all had to go back in after the break and work through the script. Later we had to go back in and learn the dance to "Let Me Sing and I Am Happy" and do it together then on our own in front of the judges.
Finally, the most difficult part was when we were asked in the room on our own to sing and dance. I had a go and they asked me to do it again – so I did! After that David Bell came to tell us the auditions were over and that we would be told in a few days if we had got the part.
Wednesday 9 September
Found out who got the part: For four days I've been thinking about nothing except "Have I Got The Part?" I knew that there would be three of us chosen because there's a lot of shows – 76 in total I think – and Dad says because of the laws involving children working the part's got to be split between three children.
I was just leaving school when I noticed Mum and Dad had come to meet me and I wondered what they were doing there when I saw them. Then they told me that David Bell had phoned to say I'd got the part I laughed and laughed and then burst out crying, I was so happy. We went round to see our family to let them know and then made tons of phone calls to friends and the staff at Mainstream. Everyone was so pleased for me.
Mum and Dad have a lot of paperwork to do now!
Monday 12 October
1st press call: Today I had some photos taken at The Lowry with the other two girls that had got the part. They needed them for the press release. It was really good fun posing, jumping and messing about in fake snow. Then I had more photos taken with Mum and Dad by a man from The Advertiser, the local newspaper. We had an interview over the phone too. The story and pictures we had sent told how my mum and I nearly died when I was born and how I'd been chosen for the show.
Saturday 24 October
2nd Press Call: I had to go to The Lowry again with Anna and Emily, the other two girls, for more photos and a story for the Manchester Evening News. This time we had them taken on the bridge and we couldn't stop laughing at all the poses we had to do. This was now getting crazy and they were starting to treat us like the stars. Ha Ha ha.
Can't wait while Monday – that's when we go to London to start rehearsals.
Monday 26 October
Morning: Woke up at seven but hardly slept a wink. I’m really excited because today I travel to London with my chaperone to begin rehearsals for the musical White Christmas. The train leaves at 4 o’clock… can’t wait!
Evening: Arrived in London at the hotel. It’s soooo posh. Just got back in the room from our evening meal and going to bed soon – first big day tomorrow.
Tuesday 27 October
Morning: I’m so excited. Today's my first rehearsal and I get to meet all the cast including the stars Aled Jones and Suzanne Shaw. Just having breakfast at the hotel then anytime soon the taxi will arrive to take us to rehearsals.
Evening: Wow what a day! Worked really hard and was asked to sing and dance on my own in front of the whole cast right away. I was very nervous but got through it fine. I'm glad I've done full day rehearsals before with Mainstream because that helped me to be prepared for the hard work. I met the whole cast and Aled and Suzanne are really really nice. Aled nearly swore during rehearsal – Ha Ha Ha – but we learnt the dance with the hat and cane – ha ha ha. I had fun!
Wednesday 28 October
Evening: Phewww what a day! We've been working flat out from 9AM till 6PM. We've staged the whole of act one and it went really, really well. I have to fall asleep on Aled's shoulder when he sings, then the granddad (Colonel) picks the other girls up, but when he tried me he said “Oh my God, there's a difference!” Ha Ha Ha.
It's really hard work but everyone's really nice and it's great fun too. Last day tomorrow so I'm packing to come home till Monday then we are off to Plymouth for more rehearsals plus a two week run of the show. Be good to get home for a rest, but can't wait for Monday.
Sunday 1 November
Night: Well we've arrived in Plymouth and met the other chaperone Jo and our private tutor Vicky. We have a tutor because while we are in Plymouth for three weeks we can’t go to school so we have private lessons in between rehearsals and show nights. Sigh...
Anyway they are both really nice. Tomorrow we start rehearsals again for another week, but this time we have to do them individually, not in a group of three Susans. Remember there are three of us sharing the part because there are 76 shows… phew!
I think I'll be very busy and hope I don't miss home too much. Still, every day gets more and more exciting. Off to bed now. Night!
Tuesday 3 November
10PM: Another really busy day. My schedule's change now and today was a rehearsal day.
My timetable on rehearsal days starts at 8:30AM. After breakfast, we travel to the rehearsal studios and do school work from 9:30AM to 12:30AM. I have a break and rehearse from 2PM to 8PM then travel back to the hotel and grab an evening meal and then off to bed tired out but still buzzing from the excitement of the show rehearsal.
I think I'm getting much better now and feeling quite confident about everything. It's really good because we are rehearsing with the set now. On Thursday after school work I'm not rehearsing so we are going to a bonfire and firework display, so that will be a nice break. Yayyy, ha ha ha night!
Thursday 5 November
Day: We went through all our scenes again today and it went really well. We watched Bob and Phil (played by Aled and Adam) and Judy and Betty (played by Suzanne and Rachel) do their Sisters routine – it was brilliant.
Friday 6 November
Night: Today we went to Plymouth Lighthouse with our tutor Vicki. It was really cool. Then we went on to the theatre to practise our songs with the orchestra. It was amazing and seemed very, very, loud. When I did my solo number I couldn't believe it was my singing – it was like a dream come true, but strange at the same time. Michael Rose, the producer, said that Theatre Royal Plymouth and The Lowry Salford were completely sold out and we would have to do more dates. I can hardly believe it – I'll be on stage to full houses every night and matinée playing to packed theatres. Wooooo, ha ha ha.
Saturday 7 November
Night: Had a great day – full dress rehearsals. Wooo, it was fun. Our dressing room is really amazing and really snazzy and guess what? Our names are on the doors! It's getting nearer show time – we open in Plymouth on Tuesday 10 November but everything's going really well... I think... so no worries yet. Wooooo, it's nearly time!
Monday 9 November
Did a full dress rehearsal again but this time on my own, not with the other two Susans. It went really well and everyone was really nice and complimentary on my performance.
Tuesday 10 November
We all did another quick practice on certain scenes today to tighten everything up. Then we went Bowling. Yay! My first show's Friday because I'm doing the weekend nights and matinées this week. Can't wait!
Thursday 12 November
We went to the Christmas lights switch on and met Britain's Got Talent star George Samson. He was nice. My first show tomorrow. Woooooo. Sooooooooo excited.
Friday 13 November
Morning: This is it, a big day in my life, because tonight's my first ever professional show and it will be to a full house of one thousand three hundred and fifty people. Wooooo, it sounds scary when I say that.
Evening: Just arrived at the theatre and there's some amazing flowers from the teachers at Mainstream. That's so nice. I'm feeling very nervous. I've never been like this before a show – well I have a little but this seems really bad.
It's nearly time and I'm trying to relax but I'm really, really nervous. Hope I calm down.
After show: Wow! I did it! Everything went really well. I don't think my nerves showed and I began to really enjoy it and calmed down after a while. The audience were amazing and when they applauded it was like a massive wave hitting me. They just loved the show. It really was just so like a dream and unreal I still can't believe it was me out there. Two more shows to do tomorrow – matinée then a break then the evening show. Woo, can't wait for the next one now.
Saturday 14 November
Another two shows done and another amazing day. Still can't believe it's me on stage though – it's a bit unreal when you get back to the dressing room after the show.
Forgot to tell you that mum and dad watched my first night yesterday and they came backstage after. They were really proud and just kept hugging me. They were so pleased when Aled Jones came over to say hello too. I don't think they believe all this either.
Not on now till next Friday and Saturday and matinée. Sigh.
Friday 20 November
Morning: Yes! Back at the theatre tonight for my first of the next three shows. It's been fun going out with the chaperone since my last shows but it's not as exciting as being on stage. Can't wait.
Night: What a night! It was amazing and the audience were brilliant. You should have heard the applause after my song and dance. I couldn't believe it, and then at the end when I came on to do my bow I got another massive cheer.
I suppose I must be getting better, or maybe it was because my hat fell off in my number. It's meant to be funny though so it didn't matter. Anyway, maybe everything went so well because I wasn't anywhere as nervous. It's still a bit unreal though.
Got two shows tomorrow: a matinée, then the last night.
Saturday 21 November
Night: Another great day. Two shows and that's it for Plymouth. It's really sad, because although we will be meeting up with the cast in Manchester to do The Lowry I'm not going to see some of the people I met down here again. Well maybe I will see them – you never know.
Anyway, I'll be glad to get back home to see my friends and Mum and Dad. It's going to be amazing at The Lowry too.
Sunday 22 November
Afternoon: On the train coming home. I'm a bit sad coz Plymouth shows were my first and I'll never forget them and everyone I met and just how amazing everything was. It still feels like maybe it wasn't me and it was someone else.
Three more hours and I'll be back though, so that's good. I was just thinking about my hat dropping off and how Miss Carole used to tell us off when we did Mainstream show rehearsals if our hats weren't pinned on properly. She was right!
Monday 23 November
Afternoon: Went back to school today. I was a bit worried in case I was really behind in the work. We had our private tuition while we were away but I just didn't know if I had kept up. I was also wondering about how my friends would be with me, although I knew some had read my blogs.
Anyway, everything was fine. My friends were great and just acted normally, which was what I had hoped. I wasn't behind at school either, so I really enjoyed being back there and I've enjoyed being back at home too. Got my first rehearsal at The Lowry on Wednesday.
Wednesday 25 November
Night: Had my first rehearsal at The Lowry today. It was a bit hectic – it's so much bigger than the Royal at Plymouth so we were running about at first to make our cues. Everything... well, most things went well, and in the end it was great. Can't wait to get started.
My first shows are Wednesday 2 December. I'm doing the matinée at 2:30PM and the evening show at 7:30PM plus fifteen more, including the last night again like I did at Plymouth, although we are expecting more dates to be added so I don't know if it will be the last on 9 January.
Anyway, I just can't wait...
Thursday 3 December
Just finished my first run of three shows. They went really well – it was sold out every show. I asked some of the cast to sign my script and Aled signed an autograph for my Nana. He's sooooooo nice. It's been brilliant working with him and everyone else too we are just like a big family and get on really well.
After the show I had taken my make-up off but left my hair in plaits. Then when I was leaving everyone recognised me because of the plaits and they kept coming up to me and making a big fuss and saying really nice things about how good I was. There were loads of them. I was a bit embarrassed at first and didn't know what to say except "thank you". I even had to sign some autographs for people. Wow I can't believe it now I'm thinking about it – little old me signing autographs!
My next three shows are next week: Wednesday 9th x 2 and Thursday 10th x 1. Can't wait!
Friday 11 December
Well, it just gets better and better – the last three shows went great for me. Emily and I have had some show photos taken with the cast, which really should have been done before to put in the programme along with Anna's.
Unfortunately only Anna's show shots were in the programme because they were done in Plymouth. It was very disappointing, especially for Mum and Dad, because The Lowry programmes only give my profile photo and not show shots. The production manager apologised to us all then called in the cast to have the new shots done so we at least get to keep these photos.
Been signing more autographs this week! Plus had lots of relatives and friends coming to see the show. I was able to meet some in the foyer before make-up and the show start, then I got loads of fuss and compliments after. Think I like showbiz!
Got a five-show run coming up. It's gonna be hard work, but I won't half enjoy it, especially now school's finished. It's hard trying to concentrate on lessons, then rushing off to The Lowry for the show.
Anyway, it's going to be fantastic now because it's full houses again, plus it's Christmas too.
P.S. Next shows for me are 18, 19 (x 2) 21 and 22 December.
Friday 18 December
Disaster!
I finished school early and was really excited about getting home and getting changed. I had my lunch at half past 10 in the morning so I was very hungry. We were going out for tea but everywhere was full except Pizza Express. I was excited about my shows but I was feeling a bit shaky so I thought I just needed something to eat.
We got in and sat down and I started to feel sickly. I was very scared and worried that I was not going to be able to do the performance and my French teacher was going and I didn't want to let her down, plus it was the start of my Big Five shows.
I started getting upset and when the food came I just couldn't eat it I felt so sick. I was crying and really upset because I felt that if I did not do the show I would let people down plus I was missing out on my big run of five shows. We went to tell Mig (the company manager) that I could not go on. On my way to the stage door we met Jeannie, our chaperone, so she got Mig and then contacted Anna to do my show.
Saturday 19 December
We got a phone call to say Anna had also been ill in the finale while she was covering for me.
I felt better and really up for my shows. When we got there, everyone was really happy to see me. I went into Aled's room and asked him if he would sign my programme. He said "yes", but joking he made an 'X' with his fingers and said, "Are you better? This is a germ-free zone!" I giggled and said "yes".
When we got backstage I was fine until the song 'Snow' when I went shaky again, but Jeannie thought it was just nerves. When I came off from that scene I said to Jeannie, "I still feel shaky and now a bit dizzy and sick." She said, "oh well, you have broken the ice now," so I went along with the nerves idea! When I had completely finished that scene I knew I wasn't well so I told Jeannie. I felt bad and as if I was letting people down but Jeannie said, "it's you we need to worry about."
So Jeannie told Claire – one of the stage hands – who said, "are you okay to do your next entrance?" I said, "I dont know!" But I had to really, so I struggled through it. The cast who were on stage knew something was wrong because I wasnt acting myself. Then, to make it even worse, I realised it was my quick change next. Louise said, "are you feeling ok?" then Rachel said, "deep breaths." A dancer called Emily we have been very close to said, "come on, let's go offstage and you can come back on if you feel like it after."
Emily was the smallest dancer and after Friday they figured out that someone would have be Susan if all of us were ill and that person was Emily, so she filled in for me. I went backstage and they give me an energy tablet and said, "you will have to do the porch scene, but you don't have to get changed and after that you can go home because Emily (my friend and one of the other girls who play Susan) is on her way plus your mum". I did my porch scene and went home in the interval feeling really ill and bad about everything.
But... over the weekend I got better!
Monday 21 December
I felt much better on Monday, but was a bit nervous. Once I got backstage, everyone was lovely with me and Aled was joking with me, which made me feel much more like myself and I had one of my best performances. Everyone was commenting at the stage door about my performance after the show. Can't wait for Tuesday!
Tuesday 22 December
My family had a box so I had to be on top form and the show went wonderfully. I felt a bit nervous, but not as much as Monday.
Wednesday 30 December
My favourite primary teacher came on the matinée plus mum's and nanna's friends. They were all very proud of me and I loved that show.
Evening
Mainstream staff – including Barry the boss and my dance teacher Miss Carole and some of my friends, especially Amy – were watching so my dance captain said I had better be good then!
I think the performance went well except my hat fell off again, but everyone was pleased afterwards. Just a matinée tomorrow.
New Year's Eve
Matinée
Mum, dad, nanna and auntie came to see me. Roy (my granddad in the show) was hilarious! It was a right laugh!
When he was meant to be on in the finale, he was standing next to Jeannie, so she said "oi! What are you doing here? You're meant to be on!"
It was very very funny! All went well and we enjoyed New Year's Eve!!
Can't wait for my next ones: Friday 8 and Saturday 9 matinée and evening shows. I'm finishing it off like I did in Plymouth. It's going to be upsetting though – I'm going to miss everyone but me and Jeannie are inviting people into our room for juice, cakes, and photos. I'm so sad but excited at the same time.
Friday 8 January
I have a lot of people I know coming again tonight so I'm looking forward to the show.
When I arrived at the stage door, someone asked for my autograph again plus one of the Lowry staff members wanted me to sign two posters. The show went really well, and when I was in the foyer after lots of strangers from the audience recognised me and were whispering to each other and pointing. Fame at last! Also I got a teddy off one of my dad's friends, which was really nice.
It was fantastic! I am looking forward to the very last shows tomorrow, but I think I'm going to be upset.
Saturday 9 January
I wanted to do the vocal warm up so I arrived early. When I arrived, Jeannie wasn't there so I went to put all of the food and drink my mum and dad got for our little party between shows in our dressing room. I found Mig and asked him if I could do the warm up even though Jeannie wasn't there (coz it was the last one). He said it was fine – it was a great last warm up. It was very sad though.
It was a great afternoon show and some of my mum's friends came to see me. I got changed and Anna and Emily and all the cast arrived for our party in our dressing room. It was fantastic; we had lots of photos and everyone enjoyed the food and drink.
We managed (after a lot of fuss) to get tickets for the evening show for Anna and Emily. I was glad because it was the last show and I wanted them to be there plus everyone was having a party in the evening and we wanted to go too!
I was very sad before the evening show because it was the last time I was going to wear my costumes and perform. I managed to get through it except after the start of 'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm' I started crying backstage. I managed to hold back the tears on stage though.
When it was all over, everyone was really upset. I went offstage but Jeannie said go back on. I was crying my eyes out! Suzanne Shaw and one of the male dancers came over giving me hugs – everyone was making a big fuss!
After the show, me, Emily and Anna met and we ran towards the bar. We were too scared at first and wondered if we should go to where the rest of the cast were. Then I got stopped for an autograph so it gave us some courage so we joined the cast and we had a really great time with everyone. They all made a real fuss of us and I loved it!
We were very sad at the end and all of us were going round hugging every single member of the cast. Suzanne Shaw wouldn't let go of me – she was so nice. I'm really going to miss her and Aled and... well every single one of the cast so much because they were all really great. It's making me cry writing this.
I loved doing White Christmas – it has been a absolutely fantastic experience I'll never forget!
29 October 2009Return to news menu - archive menu