downsmail.co.uk


Dancer Eleanor wins Romeo andJuliet role


ATEENAGER hasmade her pro- fessional stagedebut at the theatre which inspired her to pursue a ca- reer in the limelight. Dancer Eleanor McGrath (17)


joined castmembers in acclaimed choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne’s new adaptation of the Shakespearean love tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The Maidstone Grammar


School for Girls student took on the role of Bridget for the five-day run at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre lastmonth. She told Downs Mail: “I feel


very lucky to be part of not just a professional show, but aMatthew Bourne show. “I watched The Car Man at the


Marlowewhen Iwas quite young and it was a turning point. It was where I realised Iwanted to be up there, to be like those people, and to performin shows like this.” Eleanor (pictured) landed the


role after Sir Matthew put a call out in April 2018 for young dancers, aged between 16 and 19. It attractedmore than 1,000 appli- cations and prompted aUK-wide audition tour. Eleanorwas one of a handful of


hopefuls picked for various per- formances around the country. She said the experience had proved to be a masterclass for a career on stage.


“Itwas so valuable forme to be


able to watch these professionals work and see how they develop their characters and learn mate- rial,” she said. “You learn somuch fromdoing


professional shows…you’ll never get as much from a class as you do froma professional show. “It was intense, but so worth it.


You finish the day exhausted, but feel so fulfilled. “I feel like sometimes you’ve


got to put yourself in these situa- tionswhere you’re not necessarily in your comfort zone.” The production, starringHarri-


son Dowzell as Romeo and Bry- ony Wood as Juliet, ran at The Marlowe from Tuesday, Septem- ber 17 to Saturday, September 21. Reflecting on the experience,


Eleanor said: “I’d like to take all the skills I’ve learned and hope- fully get into a really good con- temporary dance school.”


News Taxi drama


POLICE are investigating claims a passengerwas forced to leap from a moving taxi after being “threat- ened and held against hiswill”. Detectives say theman and two


pals caught the cab in King Street, Maidstone, at around 12.30am on Saturday, August 24. The friends say theymade a “joke” to the cab- bie, but he reactedbadly anddrove erratically, and jumped a red light. The vehicle stopped on the A20


at Hermitage Lane, Aylesford, where two of the passengers got out. But the third says he was trappedwhen the cab sped off. Hewas allegedly threatened be-


fore he jumped out, and sustained “a number of injuries”.Amanwas helping policewith their enquiries.


Traffic delays


TRAFFIC lights are due to be in place inWateringbury for over two months. The signals on the A26 Ton-


bridge Road are due to be in place until Friday,December 20, to allow for building repair works at the junction with Bow Road and Red Hill. Drivers arewarned to expectde- lays and allowextra time.


OUT NOW


Pick up your free copy of the Autumn edition of Mid Kent Living magazine.


Available at major supermarkets, selected newsagents and local points of interest.


Maidstone November 2019 31


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