Newcomer lands leading role

Juliette Bell will take centre stage in Alnwick Stage Musical Society’s 30th anniversary show Evita.

Juliette, 35, who lives near Belford, takes on the leading role of Eva Peron in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical.

Norman Luke, director of this year’s show, said: “It’s one of the big musical theatre roles. Throughout the show Eva ages from 15 to 33 and Juliette accurately portrays the distinct changes in Eva, as the excitable teen to the poised wife of the Argentine president Juan Peron, until her untimely death.

“Juliette is incredibly talented and brings star quality to the role.”

On stage for most of the show, Juliette sings many of the big musical numbers, including Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Buenos Aires, Rainbow High and High Flying Adored.

Musical director Peter Brown said: “I was moved to tears when I heard Juliette audition for the part, she sang so beautifully and with real sensitivity. We are very lucky she found us, she is going to be a great Eva.”

After running a successful holiday company in Argyll, Scotland, Juliette returned to Northumberland in 2014.

In August 2016 she stumbled across the Stage Musical’s Facebook page.

She said: “I was incredibly enthused by the amazing reviews for Sister Act so decided to go to the first open meeting at the Playhouse last September. It was great to be singing in a theatre again, as opposed to the bath, alone. It brought it all back to me, that buzz we all get from being on the stage. I guess it’s been a long time, almost 10 years since I last performed on stage.”

The show runs at Alnwick Playhouse from March 21 to 26, with five evening performances and two matinees. Tickets are available from the box office or at www.alnwickplayhouse.com