Northside kids take first steps towards stardom

SEVERAL Northside children will take their first steps on what could be the road to stardom after earning roles in The Sleeping Beauty at The Helix this panto season.

The local boys and girls were among 200 young hopefuls who were put through their paces at Ireland’s only panto boot camp earlier this summer.

And now Sarah Phelan (14) from Clontarf, Rachel Carroll (12) from Cabra East, Georgia Poole (12) Clonshaugh, Eire Garvey (12) North Circular Road, Robyn Poole (10) Clonshaugh, Chloe Doyle (14) and Caoimhe Joyce Mooney (9) from Finglas East are set to see their panto dreams come true.

Abbie Flannery (10) from Castleknock, Matthew Madigan (10) from Clonee and Kate Kavanagh (10) from Clonsilla were also successful in their auditions and they’ll all be joined onstage at The Helix by Anna Wynne (10), Raheny, Grace Kelly (9), Drumcondra, Clarke Poole (6) Clonshaugh and Eoin Kenny (9) from Clare Hall.

During panto boot camp the budding stars took lessons in singing, dancing and schooling in the art of panto, but only the top talent gets picked to perform at The Helix, home of one of Ireland’s best produced traditional pantomimes.

Now the chosen ones are all set to shine in a six-week run of The Sleeping Beauty at the Helix starting on November 29 and finishing on January 13.

“Being on stage is really, really exciting and we’ve had so much fun learning all our new dances and songs,

? said Clarke Poole from Newbury Avenue, Clonshaugh.

At just six years old Clarke, who is in first class at St Brigid’s National School, Killester, is the youngest member of the cast.

“It’s the best thing ever, we all love performing and it’s even better being on stage when you see the audiences reaction,

? said Rachel Carroll from Killala Road, Cabra West.

Rachel, who is in sixth class at Christ the King School, Cabra, is even more thrilled with her fellow actors who include Fair City’s loveable rogue Mondo, also known as George McMahon.

George plays the handsome Harry Smiles in this re-telling of the classic fairy tale with a contemporary Dublin twist.

“The grown-ups in the cast are really kind to us, we’re like a family. It’s fantastic to tell your classmates about performing alongside stars like Mondo,

? said Rachel.

The Northside crew are among the talented bunch of 44 youngsters ranging in age from seven to 14 who have graduated from panto boot camp to cast member.

“Because there is a limit to the amount of time children can perform on stage, our child star crew is divided into seven teams,

? panto writer and producer Claire Tighe explained.

“All the children will appear in a selection of shows over our six week run at The Helix.

?

This is Claire’s sixth panto at the Dublin theatre following on from her hugely-successful productions of Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Cinderella, and Jack and the Beanstalk.

With over 20 years of pantomime experience, her family run company TheatreworX, has established a reputation for producing the very best traditional Christmas entertainment and bringing great new talent to the stage.