Abigail Higgs – West End Kids Troupe
Where are you from?
I’m Abigail, I’m 17 and I’m from Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Journey with West End Kids:
When did you join West End Kids?
I joined West End Kids 2019 and I went through every WEK: Training Troupe. From Blue to Troupe
What inspired you to audition for West End Kids?
I had seen videos of Troupe performances online and I loved them, so I thought it would be a good experience to go along to an audition.
Performance Highlights:
What has been your favourite performance so far and why?
St George’s Day in Trafalgar Square has been one of my favourites so far. It was one of my first performances on a bigger stage and it had such an amazing atmosphere.
Can you share a memorable moment from one of your performances?
One of my best memories is from when we performed at British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park. When we were in the middle of a dance I looked down and saw all the little children smiling and dancing along trying to copy the moves and shouting out the lyrics. The energy was amazing and it was just so lovely.
Training and Dedication:
How many hours a week do you spend rehearsing and training?
Between going over harmonies in the mornings, and learning and polishing dances in the evenings, I’d say I spend around 2 hours each day rehearsing all of the material.
What do you find most challenging and rewarding about your training?
WEK Rehearsals are very fast paced and so it can be a struggle for me to try and keep up, especially when learning new dances during rehearsals, but the fulfilment once I’ve practiced hard and learnt a dance will always be satisfying.
Future Aspirations:
What are your future goals in the performing arts?
My dream eventually is to perform on stages of West end shows or Touring Musical Theatre Productions, but I’d also love to be a Singing, Acting or Music teacher at some point!
Personal Interests:
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of performing?
I’ve been playing instruments since I can remember, and I love to play music, on the Flute, Piano and Guitar. I also love to draw, read, and write.
Tell us something that people might not know about you!
Along with my music, art, and performing, I attend weekly Circus Arts classes, where I train In Aerial hoop and Flying trapeze!
Inspirations and Motivation:
Who inspires you the most in the performing arts world?
Julie Andrews, Carrie Hope Fletcher, and Grace Mouat.
What keeps you motivated to keep improving and performing?
Watching other people perform never fails to inspire me to work even harder. Seeing people on a stage and hoping that that could be me one day just always motivates me.
Experience with West End Kids:
How has being a part of West End Kids impacted you?
When I joined West End Kids I only had experience from Local Theatre Groups and so I really learnt almost everything I know about Musical Theatre from WEK. From having thick skin, to picking up dances, to how to perform on stage, WEK has impacted me in every way.
What advice would you give to new members or those aspiring to join West End Kids?
My advice would be to not hold yourself back. The only person who can stop you from progressing is yourself, so just throw yourself into everything as much as you can, make sure to work hard and have fun!
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This interview with Abigail Higgs took place on Wednesday 7th August 2024.
