My first memories would be as a child, being taken to the Grand Theatre with my family to watch the Annual Musical Production performed by the Swansea Amateur Operatic Society. My Grandparents were involved with the Society and at curtain down they would take me backstage to meet the cast. I remember being in awe of the performers and dancers who always had time for a chat before rushing off to their after show parties. I also remember standing on the stage, that first time, thinking ‘I want to do this one day’.
But seeing my Grandmother on the stage is one of my most significant memories. My Grandmother used to coach Speech from her living room on Sketty Road, Swansea. I remember visiting as a child and told ‘shh now because she’s teaching’. I would listen, from behind a closed door, to young Actors and Actresses reading from plays and musicals. She was clearly a very special lady. To see her on the Grand Theatre stage as the Queen in ‘My Fair Lady’ was wonderful and I can picture her now. My dream came true and I have performed many times on this stage. I myself was delighted to play the role of Eliza Doolittle in ‘My Fair Lady’ in both 1996 with Abbey Players and 2001 with Swansea Amateurs and I know my Grandmother would have been extremely proud.
I have a Grandson who is 5 years old, and two years ago I took him to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I sat in the audience with him and it was emotional as I felt I had come full circle. He loved it, it was a joy to see him being transported to somewhere else. Then afterwards, I took him backstage, just like my Grandparents did with me and he met the cast. He stood on the stage, sat at the keyboards in the pit and he even sat in the Chitty Car!
Wonderful memories of a wonderful theatre.
