A performer who trained in Burnley has landed a ‘dream’ role in the Mamma Mia! musical UK and international tour this year.
Freya Humberstone, 23, auditioned for the Mamma Mia! cast and received a call back from the crew earlier this month to offer her one of the leading roles of the cast, Lisa, as well as being the first cover for Sophie.
The show, which is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, will be taking the stage in cities around the country as well as across the globe.
Freya, who trained at the London School of Musical Theatre, said: “I’m so incredibly excited to say I will be playing Lisa/ first cover Sophie in the MAMMA MIA UK and INTERNATIONAL TOUR! What the heck!!??
“For anyone who knows me well, you’ll know that my (incredible, brilliant, fantastic, beautiful, best human in the entire world) mum Rachel Humberstone and her gorgeous friend Donna Bland were in an ABBA tribute band when I was little, so the majority of my childhood memories consist of dancing around in feather boas singing along to ABBA - so this really feels like a full circle moment for me and honestly a dream come true!
“I know I have so many people that have helped and supported me on my journey to get here and I honestly can’t thank you enough - I truly feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be able to call this my job!”
Before moving to London, Freya trained at Basics Junior Theatre School in Burnley, and thanked the organisation, saying she “couldn’t have done it without them”.
Andy Cooke, principal at Basics, shared how excited and proud he and the rest of the school are.
He said: “We are absolutely over the moon for Freya and her family, as she takes the role of Lisa / first cover Sophie in her dream show.
“Following her years at Basics, Freya went on to train at The London School of Musical Theatre and recently concluded her UK and international arena tour as the lead in ‘LOL Surprise Live’.
"Not only is she beautiful inside and out, Freya is an incredibly hard-worker and deserves EVERY success.
“My mantra at Basics is, ‘You only get out what you are prepared to put in,’ and boy has this girl put in!
“Not only is Freya a talented young lady but she is an inspiration to our students at Basics who wish to pursue a career in Musical Theatre.
“You have to admire the tenacity of this young lady. This is what you can achieve with hard work and the determination to succeed in a very competitive industry.
“Everyone at Basics wishes Freya well as she joins the MAMMA MIA! UK & International Tour Cast 2023.
“We are absolutely over the moon and extremely proud of your achievements.”
The show will play dates across 2023, including a week of performances at Scarborough Open Air Theatre with stops including Wolverhampton, Manchester, Cardiff, Blackpool, Leeds, Peterborough, Portsmouth and Truro, before jetting off across the globe.
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