Eileen O'Brien

eileen.obrien@KRNmedia.co.uk

FROM school show to professional stage faster than you can say "Les Miserables".

Two young musical actors from Minster have made a meteoric rise to stardom after appearing in the musical at Sandwich Technology School.

Alaric Green, 16, and Rosie Malloy, 11, are to repeat their respective roles of policeman Javert and Little Cosette at Canterbury's Gulbenkian Theatre.

The show, which featured almost 50 Sandwich Technology School pupils, attracted such praise that producer/director Josephine Buchan decided to take it to a wider audience.

Alaric, who is studying GCSE drama, had not taken part in any major productions before and nobody – not even the Year 11 student himself – had any idea he possessed a fine baritone voice.

Alaric's proud mum Gayna Gould said: "We had no idea Alaric could sing, and it turns out he has this fantastic baritone voice."

Now Alaric is planning on taking a course in musical theatre at Canterbury College, if he gets the grades he needs in his GCSEs.

Alaric, whose hobbies include rugby and martial arts, said his friends have welcomed his new interest.

He said: "My mates just accept it. As soon as I discovered performing, I just fell in love with it."

He has also been offered a scholarship with All Sorts of Music, in Ham.

Alaric is amazed at the turn of events. He said: "I only chose drama because my brother did it and said it was easy.

"When they said there were auditions for Les Mis, I thought 'oh well, it's my last year, I might as well go for it'."

Recalling the audition for Javert, Alaric said: "I started singing in a tenor, which sounded wrong.

"I went an octave lower and there was this really deep voice there. I kind of shocked myself."

With the show about to transfer to the professional stage, Alaric is not scared about performing in front of a wider audience.

He said: "I really enjoy the shows now.

"I didn't think I would be able to get up in front of an audience, but once you get over the nerves it's easy."

Rosie Malloy's proud mum, Rose Osborne, said her daughter is also excited about continuing her part in a show she first saw as a three-year-old in the West End.

Rose said: "She was mesmerised. We bought her the DVD of the show and she has always loved it."

No stranger to the stage, Rosie, a Minster Primary School pupil, has appeared in many local performances and pantos.

Rose said: "She takes classes in ballet, tap, street and modern dance and just loves performing.

"She has a lovely voice, but has never had a singing lesson."

Les Miserables is on at the Gulbenkian July 20 to 25, starting at 7.30pm. Ticket prices begin at £12.

For bookings and information, call 01227 769075.