Soham-based Viva Theatre Company is marking the anniversary of the start of the first lockdown by releasing a video of members singing and dancing to ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman. The video is being released on YouTube on 22nd March at 8pm to raise funds for the new theatre being created in Soham.
Members of all ages filmed themselves at home singing and dancing, and using some clever technology they have been brought together in a rousing and emotional performance, promising ‘we will come back home…’
The original backing track was performed by professional musicians who all gave their time to the project for free.
Viva! Founder Dan Schumann comments: “We have all missed live theatre over the last year, and we have all missed our Viva family. So we wanted a project that would give us a focus, a chance to perform and that feeling of creating something really magical. This project has delivered that in spades! We are hoping that it will be shared far and wide and viewers will be moved to support our new theatre through online donations.”
Viva Arts and Community Group is converting the old mill on Spencer’s Drove in Soham into a community arts and theatre centre. Work has continued on the site throughout the pandemic, but the lockdowns and social distancing rules have delayed the project and costs have increased considerably.
Dan explains: “Donations from the Greatest Showman video will go to the renovation fund to enable the project to be completed in time for lockdown to be finally lifted, hopefully in the summer. Then we can finally ‘come back home’.”
The group’s next project will be a virtual radio play of Frankenstein, again all filmed remotely and using the latest editing software to create a unique theatre/radio fusion experience.
Spencer’s Mill is being transformed into the Viva Theatre using funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Power to Change, The Arts Council, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, Amey Vespa and many others.
Press release from Viva Arts and Community Group
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