2 days Ago
A Bolton theatre school is celebrating 13 of its youngsters taking part in the new Robbie Williams’ hit film Better Man. Interact School of Performing Arts is based at Walmsley Parish Hall in Egerton during the week, and at St Peter’s Parish Centre in Halliwell on Saturday mornings The school was founded seven years ago by freelance actors and acting coaches Lucy Pearson, who grew up in Egerton, and Emma Gilbertson from Westhoughton. Interact specialises in training youngsters from four to 18 in musical theatre, acting and performing arts including auditions and shows.
Interact youngsters taking part in a performance of Fame (Image: Supplied) Both founders went to acting schools, Lucy to the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and Emma to the Manchester School of Acting. They started their business with just four students and now have around 300. Their youngsters have performed at Manchester’s Palace Theatre, Blackpool Opera House and Bolton’s Albert Halls and also appear in in-house productions at Walmsley.
They came to the attention of Better Man’s casting director Emma Stafford, who lives in Egerton, because the sister of her assistant attends Interact sessions. She needed to audition regional theatre schools when the film’s director, Michael Gracey, wanted to “boost the sound” on the biopic of the Stoke-born singer’s life with authentic Northern voices. Emma said: “Interact were above everyone else by a country mile.
"The depth and breadth of the sound of the kids and how they took direction was brilliant.” Emma Gilbertson, left, and Lucy Pearson (Image: Supplied) For the recording in Manchester, they had to learn one of the film’s songs – a Gilbert and Sullivan song from The Pirates of Penzance, reflecting the period of Robbie's life when he starred in a school production. They also wanted some of them to speak lines in a scene where young Robbie was badly bullied at school.
Lucy said: “They were amazing and they loved the experience.” As 11-year-old, Helena put it: “It was so exciting and fun! I learnt so much from it.” Maya, 13, said: “It was an incredible opportunity, considering this was my first time working in the industry.
"It was amazing to see how it all went on behind the scenes.” The innovative film, which was five years in the making, depicts Robbie as a chimpanzee using motion-capture technology alongside human stars. The poster for the Robbie Williams film Better Man (Image: Supplied) The singer has often referred to himself as “a performing monkey".
When they viewed it, Emma and Lucy and the Interact youngsters were all delighted with the results. And film critics were full of praise, hailing the groundbreaking movie “totally enthralling"..
