Jen's HLOSJ Story

As a young girl I wanted nothing more than to be able to act, sing, and dance on stage so when a friend from school introduced me to Halifax Light Operatic Society Juniors I was extremely excited, and to this day my time at HLOSJ holds some of my most treasured childhood memories that have influenced my life since.

After a short audition for the director, Jean Riley, I joined the group at age 12 and was with them for four productions:

Kiss Me Kate was my first show, in which I took part in the chorus. This was a fun show with some great songs and I still remember some of Kay Richardson’s choreography – “Kay’s Kitchen” a tap step she came up with in her kitchen is a personal favourite! Being new to the group I remember feeling in awe of the lead performers and hoping that one day I might get to play a leading role.

The second show I did with the group was Irene, a musical I hadn’t heard of before, but as often happens when you begin rehearsing a musical, suddenly I was hearing songs from the show everywhere. As well as being in the chorus for this show I also had a small speaking part, which was a great experience. My friend, Amy, got the lead role that year and she was perfect for the part. Opposite her was a flamboyant young man with an amazing voice, his name was Owen, but you may know him now as the fabulous and glamourous drag queen, Davina Di Campo!

Show number three was Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic, Oklahoma! A fun and vibrant show with fantastically catchy songs. I was in the chorus again for this one, which meant there was lots of time to have fun with my friends while rehearsing the songs and dance routines. Rachel Pegg had joined the production team by then as M.D. and with her brought a new energy and some memorable warm-up songs which I still use in my work today – “I like the Flowers…”

My final production with HLOSJ was My Fair Lady in which I played the leading role of Eliza Doolittle. Eliza goes through a transformation from a downtrodden cockney street seller to a well-spoken young lady who could pass for royalty. I will always be grateful to Jean Riley, who helped me to understand the character and taught me to speak not only with a loud and brash cockney accent but also with poised and graceful renounced pronunciation, not to mention with marbles in my mouth! Having the opportunity to really get involved in a characters through-story and dig into the nitty gritty of what makes a character who they are is an experience that every young actor should have – I know it certainly improved my acting! This production and the great memories it created holds a special place in my heart and remains to this day my most favourite on stage experience.

As a child I always thought it was amazing how the props and costumes seemed to just appear at rehearsals, but in my work today I have found huge respect for the people who sourced and collected these items together for each production.

We performed each year at the Halifax Playhouse, a cosy traditional theatre with a magical atmosphere. There is nothing like the backstage buzz as you get ready to perform in a bustling dressing room full of costumes, accessories, and make-up; with good luck cards and messages stuck to the mirrors; jellybeans; more jellybeans; and all your friends!!

I made some great friends during my time at HLOSJ, and we had some great times together, not just at rehearsals but also at the various birthday parties, sleepovers, pizza, cinema and ice-skating outings, movie nights, discos and more… these experiences made so many memories and are as much what being part of the group is about as putting on the shows.

After leaving light-op I my passion for theatre and performing continued as I completed A-levels in dance and drama and went on to study Performing Arts at university, before spending a year in London completing a diploma in Screen Acting.

I now teach singing and run my own theatre school, ACT Youth Theatre, where I aim to recreate for young performers today some of the magic that I experienced in my HLOSJ days. I am also a member of the local amateur dramatics group here in Carlisle, which I love not only for the amazing group of friends I have made, but also because it reminds me so much of the memories I made as a child at Halifax Light Opera Society Juniors.

— Jen Heron