Musical Theatre students, Rebecca and Felicity, take to the Forum Theatre Billingham stage in Dickens’ festive classic.
The magic of Christmas looks set to arrive early for Stockton Riverside College musical theatre students Rebecca and Felicity.
This week the pair will perform at the Forum Theatre Billingham in the ensemble of Anne Dalton’s musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
Looking forward to embarking on the five-day run of the Charles Dickens’ festive favourite, Rebecca, 17, of Great Ayton, said: “It was brilliant to be told I had got in and to know that all the hard work had paid off.”
Felicity, 16, of Wynyard, added: “It’s very exciting and I can’t wait to get started.”
Both students responded to a casting call for the senior ensemble of the show’s Billingham performance in the UK tour. A day-long audition put their singing and dancing skills under the spotlight.
Her first audition for a professional show, Felicity said: “I didn’t know what to expect. There was a lot to it, but it was really good experience.”
Testing their ability, Rebecca explained: “They taught us the dance routines while we were there, then we had to put the singing and dancing together.”
Surrounded by dozens of fellow performers, all vying for a limited number of places, she said: “You need to be assured of yourself.”
Felicity quickly learned: “You just have to focus on yourself rather than what the others are doing.”
Both clearly impressed as, with numbers cut throughout the day, they made it to the final selection. Hearing their names read out came as a huge relief.
Performing is clearly a passion for both students who started their musical theatre journey joining local theatre schools at an early age. Rebecca is part of The Bradley School of Dance and Musical Theatre in Great Ayton and Felicity is a member of the Polka School of Dance in Sherburn.
This, along with their college studies, no doubt will make for a busy Christmas period, as both students are also currently preparing for Stockton Riverside College’s festive production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast the Broadway Musical.
It’s all great preparation for a future in the performing arts and the demands and quick turnaround of a hectic rehearsal period.
Presented by Just Entertainment in association with Anne Dalton, the UK tour of her musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol runs at the Forum Theatre Billingham from this Wednesday (12th November 2025) to Sunday (16th November).
Rebecca and Felicity will be performing alongside actors and West End stars, Steven Pinder in the role of Scrooge, Michael Starke as Marley’s Ghost, Janet Cowley as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Peter Chapman as Bob Cratchit.
Tickets are priced from £18.50 and are available from the theatre box office. Visit: www.forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk
