Theatre
Company To Raise Money For NHS Heroes
A successful north east theatre group is
producing a compilation CD of lockdown musical theatre classics to help support
the National Health Service.
Darlington Operatic Society has announced plans to release
a CD called “Strictly Lockdown” – comprising up to 18 musical theatre songs –
with 50 per cent of the profits being donated to NHS charities.
All of the songs have been created by members singing from
their spare bedrooms, under-stair cupboards, bathrooms and conservatories. The
result will be more than 70 minutes of “virtual musical theatre magic”, with
the CD going on sale in early July.
DOS spokesman Julian Cound said: “This is probably one of
the most challenging projects the Society has faced – and that includes having
to make Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fly. The idea of creating a compilation CD came
fairly soon after the lockdown happened. It has taken many weeks of planning
and organisation to get it to the stage we are at now.”
The process has involved choosing the right mix of songs,
arranging backing tracks, and making sure the project meets all legal
requirements.
“Getting 30 or so cast members to sing accurately when they
are standing shoulder to shoulder is one thing, getting voices to match when
they have been recorded completely independently from all corners of the
North-East has been a huge technical challenge,” said Julian. “However, from
hearing the first two tracks completed, I know we have absolutely nailed it.”
DOS had been due to stage Strictly Musicals 3 at Darlington
Hippodrome Theatre from April 22 but, after months of rehearsals, the show had
to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the Society bounced back from the disappointment
by creating a virtual choir to perform One Day More, from Les Miserables, on
its Facebook page. That was followed by a virtual dance video to From Now On,
taken from The Greatest Showman. Those two performances have been watched by
more than 33,000 people.
As well as supporting the NHS, sales of Strictly Lockdown
will also help DOS through a difficult period until it can resume staging its
high quality shows at the Hippodrome.
The CD will be priced at £10 plus P&P and will be
available to purchase through the DarlingtonOS website
in early July.
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