THERE was disappointment when a Dunstable theatre group failed find a place to perform in the town – but it’s still ‘on with the show’.
This year, Empire Arts is staging West Side Story, but were told that Queensbury School, where they perform their annual summer show, could not hire out its hall to them.
Efforts to find another venue in Dunstable failed, too.
Fortunately director Lucy O’Hare managed to secure Harpenden Public Halls, where the classic tale of the Sharks and the Jets will play out in front of audiences later this month.
Lucy said: “We are a little sad to not be able to do the show in Dunstable this year, it’s where I started the course, in my home town and for the community, but there just wasn’t a venue.
“So after a very difficult search we luckily were rescued by the Public Halls in Harpenden, to whom we are very grateful.
“We desperately don’t want to lose Dunstablian theatre goers that have been so supportive over the years and we hope they can make the short journey to Harpenden to see West Side. I can promise them it will be worth it.”
West Side Story sees Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet transported to 1950s New York City, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks.
Lucy describes their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice as “one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time”.
The tragic love story of Tony, a Jet, and Maria, whose brother Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks, plays out to music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with numbers including ‘Something’s Coming’, ‘Maria’, ‘America’, and ‘I Feel Pretty’.
Empire Arts was founded 10 years ago, with many cast members going on to train professionally.
Lucy said: “We pride ourselves on professional standards, staff and attitude. Many of the cast are going on to train at drama school and many alumni are working as performers in the theatre profession all over the world.”
West Side Story is at Harpenden Public Halls on Friday August 24 at 7.30pm, and Saturday August 25 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
For tickets call 01582 767525, or visit www.empiretheatrearts.webeden.co.uk