ELECTRICITY was in the air when James Lomas brought some of his West End experience as the lead in musical Billy Elliot to the Lamproom Theatre stage.
James, who won the Olivier Award for playing the title role in 2006, worked with Lamproom Youth Theatre Ensemble secretary Jo Upson to stage the pair of Billy Elliot workshops.
Performer and music teacher James taught the young performers the choreography to Electricity - which he performed at the 2004 Royal Variety Performance alongside Elton John, who wrote the music for the show - and a script from a scene to work through in pairs.
He finished off the workshops by singing Electricity for the groups.
They also had a chance to hold his Olivier, which he brought in alongside some diaries, photographs and costume items from his time in the critically-acclaimed production.
James, 28, from Chapeltown, said: “It was really good to see young, aspiring performers, as I was once myself, giving it their all.
“The hardest thing is to combine singing, dancing and acting together. And the dancing is in different styles too, so you have to be versatile.
“It is great to see them start off being a bit nervous, but by the end their confidence has completely grown and they are going for it.”
James has returned back to South Yorkshire to live after spending 11 years in London, two years in Germany and two in France.
He has just been one of the 100 judges on the BBC’s All Together Now, and doesn’t yet know if he will be joining them for season two.
“The weather is a bit different and I don’t know many people up here - most of my friends live in London. But teaching has helped me find my feet again and I’m really enjoying it,” he said.
“When I go in I start with a Q and A and I take in things like the Olivier to pass around. Luckily my mum kept a photo album and diary which at the time, I really didn’t like but now it really has come in handy. I even have the original cutout of the audition advert and some of the celebrity photos.
“The younger ones didn’t know who Girls Aloud were, which made me feel old, but some of them didn’t even know who Elton John was. So it can be funny to explain and go through it all with them.”
LYTEs secretary Jo Upson said: “We were delighted that James came to teach the kids, he is a very inspiring young man for any child wanting a career in the theatre and arts, his stories of auditions, Elton John and the west end left every child wanting more... we cant wait till he comes back.”
James is running a Billy Elliot summer school in Ecclesall. For more information contact jamesjlomas@live.co.uk.
Children interested in joining LYTEs should contact the Lamproom or email thelytesgroup@gmail.com.
