Express & Star

Meet the new Jets and Sharks from the Black Country ahead of West Side Story in Birmingham

Young actors and actresses from the Black Country will be among performers in Birmingham Hippodrome's first home-grown youth production of West Side Story.

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Cast members Kamilla Fernandes, Matthew Pandya, Alex Cooke, Olivia Allen, Gibsa Bah, Ruby Hewitt and Carter Smith. Photo: Olivia Ahmadi

The youth production will be staged between August 29 and 31 – in a first of its kind production marking the theatre's 120th birthday.

More than 1,000 young performers applied to be part of the production and after extensive rounds of auditions, the theatre has chosen 40 actors and actresses from the West Midlands, including in the Black Country, to bring the musical to life.

West Side Story cast members Carter Smith, Ruby Hewitt, Gibsa Bah, Kamilla Fernandes, Alex Cooke, Matthew Pandya and Olivia Allen. Photo: Olivia Ahmadi

Alex Cooke, 15, from Kingswinford, will take on the leading role playing one half of the star-crossed lovers, as Tony – opposite Coventry actress Kamilla Fernandes, 18, as Maria. While, 18-year-old Gibsa Bah, from Great Barr, will star as Barnardo.

And also from the Black Country, playing members of the 'Jets' and 'Sharks' gangs, are Kane Taylor, 17, from Dudley; Alexandra Whitehead, 25, from Dudley; and Aadil Din Mohammad, 17, from Smethwick.

They are joined by Ruby Hewitt, 19, from Harborne, as Anita; Matthew Pandya, 18, from Coventry, as Riff; Olivia Allen, 21, from Harborne as Anybodys; and Carter Smith, 16, from Yardley, as Chino.

The full company is then completed by young actors and actresses aged between 14 and 25 years old – who make up the 'Jets' and the 'Sharks' gang.

The full cast for Birmingham Hippodrome's youth production of West Side Story. Photo: Olivia Ahmadi

Matt Hawksworth, director, said: "We were overwhelmed by the response when initial audition notices were posted for this very special production of West Side Story. After seeing a thousand young people at auditions, we now finally have our exceptionally talented cast.

“Rehearsals have already began and we can’t wait to celebrate Birmingham Hippodrome’s 120th birthday with this brilliant new production of a truly iconic musical.”

Fiona Allan, Birmingham Hippodrome's artistic director and chief executive, added: "It is fitting that we mark our 120th birthday by funding a major new production, giving back to young people in our community.

"West Side Story remains just as relevant now as when it was first written, and holds many parallels we can still see in our everyday lives."

Kamilla Fernandes and Alex Cooke, from Kingswinford, as Maria and Tony. Photo: Olivia Ahmadi

To buy tickets, visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000.