High note for Leah as musical goes live

TALENT: music student Leah Fogo

A TALENTED student is about to witness the opening night of her first self-penned musical.

Leah Fogo (21) has written the script, lyrics and music for “Perception”, due to premiere at the Royal Northern College of Music’s Studio Theatre on Monday.

Leah, from Failsworth, is in her fourth and final year of a degree in musical composition at the RNCM, says the prospect is both exciting and terrifying.

“It’s fantastic now it has all finally come together, I can’t tell you how exciting and inspiring it’s been,” said Leah.

“It took about two years to write and putting it together has been a really long process. But we’ve got an excellent cast and I hope lots of people come long to see it.

“I’ll be terrified on the opening night as there’s nothing I can do at that point, it’s all beyond my control. But I’m really looking forward to it.”

Originally written as a 30-minute commission for London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, Leah finally got the show staged with help of musical director Scott Stait and director Sophie Day after meeting them at a Manchester amateur dramatic society.

Leah, who also teaches piano and runs choirs, hopes to establish a performing-arts school on leaving college as a platform for budding actors and musicians to try out their own work. Tickets, priced £7.50 and £5 for concessions, are available on 0161-907 5555.