On the 8th October 2015 Enter CIC were privileged to perform at the Sage, Gateshead in An Evening with Tim Rice and Friends. This star-studded concert, to raise funds for the venue’s youth music programmes and Maggie’s Newcastle, the cancer support charity, delivered entertainment of the highest quality. Organised by lyricist Sir Tim Rice and sponsored by Benfield Motor Group, it was, Sir Tim told the capacity audience that this was a “greatest hits package”.
Sir Tim, in his easy fireside manner, introduced the songs and shared anecdotes about his life in music. Songs from Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, The Lion King and many others. It was wonderful to get this inside peek at some of the most iconic and ground-breaking musical works ever created.
In a packed three hours performance, Enter CIC young people had the honour of performing with a whole host of West End stars including Joe Stilgoe, James Fox, Simon Bailey, Siubhan Harrison, Kerry Ellis, Madalena Alberto, Kathryn Tickell, Rick Wakeman, Darius Campbell, Stuart Brayson, Alice Stokoe and the Royal Northern Sinfonia and BBC’s Big Band Special presenter Clare Teal.
Our young people relished the opportunity to perform and share the stage with such a star studded cast. It would be easy to assume that a young cast would be phased by working with such eminent performers, but quite the opposite; our young people took to the stage and did what they do best by letting their voices soar high and perform with precision, commitment and passion. Every time they took to the stage the audience response was incredible.
Our young people participated in an array of musical extracts throughout the night. Judging from the audience’s response, a particular favourite was Close Every Door in which they shared the stage with the very wonderful Simon Bailey, Circle of Life where they accompanied Darius Campbell and Any Dream Will Do where they performed with all of the stars simultaneously.
Our Upper School were paid the highest honour by Sir Tim Rice and the creative team as they were given the opportunity to take to the stage in their own right backed by the Royal Northern Sinfonia and sang A Winter’s Tale, the Rice and Mike Batt song made famous by David Essex! This was particularly impressive as two of our students Ben Richardson and Dane Clements sang the lead parts. As their voices soared and their harmonies rang out everyone was impressed and delighted. After the performance our upper school received high praise indeed as Sir Tim Rice extended a personal thanks on stage to Enter CIC and our solo vocalists Ben and Dane in front of an appreciative full house comprising over 1700 audience members!
Our young people are very special and everyone who meets them and works with them is always blown away by their talent, professionalism, passion and commitment. We have received such wonderful feedback about our young people and we are so proud of them and their performance achievements.
We would like to extend a very special thanks to all of the creative team on An Evening with Tim Rice and Friends to all of the wonderful artists and of course to Sir Tim Rice for inviting us to be part of this wonderful and memorable event.
Take a look below at a gallery of images from the event (taken by a young Enter CIC volunteer, Andrew Robertshaw) You can also see the 5* review in the Chronicle by clicking here.
