My Proms TV debut (From This Is Cheshire)

My Proms TV debut

11:50am Saturday 31st July 2010

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A WOOLSTON woman will be performing at the BBC Proms this weekend.

Laura Harrison, aged 23, of Weir Lane, will be singing at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night as part of the prestigious show.

She will feature during Prom 19, which is being dedicated to American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. His work includes Sweeney Todd and West Side Story.

Former Woolston High School student Laura said: “The Proms are going to be the best show I have ever done.

“I watched Paul Weller at the Albert Hall last month and thought ‘wow, this place is pretty big’.

“Then they sent me the material for the show four weeks ago but I can’t tell anyone what’s on it or I’ll really get told off.”

Laura’s love for the stage began at the age of 10 when she joined the Codys theatre group. She played lead roles including Eponine in Les Miserables and Oklahoma’s Ado Annie during her 10 years with the group.

After completing a course in performing arts, music and drama at Priestley College, Laura – whose original ambition was to teach drama – discovered her A-level results were in the top 10 in the country.

In 2008 a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London beckoned and Laura has just graduated with a degree in musical theatre.

During her time in the capital she successfully applied to the BBC for a performing arts bursary and was subsequently invited to perform during the upcoming Proms.

She recalled telling parents Isabelle and Phil, who also live on Weir Lane, the news.

“My mum cries at everything I’m in anyway, but with my dad I had to explain what the Proms were and that I was going to be on television.”

Laura, who has already performed in the West End at Everton chairman Bill Kenwright’s Playhouse Theatre, is now looking forward to Saturday night’s show, which begins on BBC2 at 8pm.

“I grew up not wanting to be one of those people who hate their jobs,” she said, adding: “I hope this will lead to success but as long as I’m on stage, I’m happy.”

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