DONEGAL’S very own Séimí Campbell will take on the huge role of directing the new Toy Show musical this December.
Séimí has been making waves in the world of musical theatre and has worked with musicians Gary Barlow and Mick Flannery to bring their stories to the West End.
At just 26 he has an impressive CV from setting up the musical society at Trinity College where he studied Music Education before going on to complete his masters in directing.
Séimí also co-founded the Irish Youth Musical Theatre (IYMT) for young actors which strives to find, nourish and showcase the next generation of Irish actors, and launch their careers in the musical theatre industry at home and abroad.
Speaking to the Donegal News about ‘Toy Show The Musical’ Séimí said his inner child is celebrating and is very excited about the opportunity.
“When you strip everything back what’s there is an incredible tradition, a celebration of dreams and a resilience of family and that is what is exciting,” Séimí said about the Toy Show.
“Creating an original Irish musical is an opportunity that does not come around that often.”
The Donegal Town native said he really wants to use this opportunity to create something that will put Irish musical theatre on the map.
Throughout his childhood the Late Late Toy Show was a big part of the Campbell’s household and even today Séimí flies home every year to watch it with his two little brothers.
“It is a huge part of our Christmas tradition so the inner child in me is celebrating and is really excited,” he said.
“The show is in development at the moment and we have already had a number of workshops.
“I have been working on it for a year so it is great the secret is out now.”
Growing up Séimí got the chance to experience pantomimes first hand through his father who put on a show every Christmas. His dad is a nurse working with people with intellectual disabilities and every Christmas he directed a panto with the people in the hospital. It was through reading these scripts that Séimí got a taste of the career he would soon begin to carve out for himself.
‘Toy Show The Musical’ has been created and produced by Late Late Show producers Jane Murphy and Katherine Drohan and will begin on December 10, during the Christmas panto season.
This is not the only big production Séimí is currently working on. He will also direct IYMT’s inaugural national youth production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s ‘Evita’, in concert with the National Symphony Orchestra.
The show, which will mark a historic moment for musical theatre in Ireland, will be performed in the National Concert Hall on July 1st.
As he is based in London Séimí said it is great that jobs like these are bringing him back home to Ireland.
“It is a good excuse to get home. I am hoping there will be a few trips up to the hills at the weekends,” he said.
“It is an exciting time. I talk so much about a lack of opportunities to create new Irish musical theatre so it is exciting that RTE is allowing us to make a new Irish musical.
“It all seems like a fresh beginning for what the future will hold for Irish musical theatre.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)