Blackburn with Darwen children are preparing to take to the stage in a performance art theatre's first musical production.

Blackburn-based Made For Stage UK is bringing the West End to Blackburn, with a production of Shrek.

Children across Blackburn with Darwen are set to appear in the production, which is the theatre academy’s first musical.

The show will be on at the Empire Theatre on July 26, at 7.30pm, and July 27, at 3pm and 7pm.

Blackburn man Simon Robinson, who founded Made For Stage UK in 2022, said he is excited to show the world what the cast and crew have been working on.

He said: “Shrek is our first musical at the academy. Before this we have only ever held our yearly summer shows at the Empire.

"These previous shows always have a theme behind them and in June this year we did 'Legends'. The shows we create are a showcase for each cast at the academy to perform three to four numbers throughout the show.”

Simon, 41, said rehearsals for the Shrek production started in March.

He said: “The cast had to audition to gain a place last September. We had over 60 children attend the audition with 30 successfully gaining a place.

“Cast are aged 9 to 18 and all of the children involved are from Blackburn and Darwen.

“We started rehearsals for Shrek in March. We rehearse every Thursday for two hours down at the Empire Theatre. They have all worked so hard during the extra rehearsals and we are so incredibly proud of them all!”

Simon, a former Pleckgate High School pupil, said the team is excited for the weekend and says Shrek is the first of many musicals produced at the academy.

He said: “Everybody involved is beyond crazy excited for the show to happen this weekend. The cast and all the creatives have worked so hard to pull off our first ever musical as an academy but not only that, the first musical performed by the children of Blackburn in over a decade. 

“Shrek is only the beginning for us producing musicals at the academy. This version of Shrek is a shortened version and perfect as our first musical! We are also very excited to announce that we are going to be doing our first full scale musical next summer.

"The specific musical is yet to be confirmed but when it is we will be holding open auditions so more children in Blackburn and the surrounding area have the chance to become part of our next musical cast.”

Before Covid, Simon worked as a lead vocalist on the world tour of the 12 Tenors.

When Covid hit “everything changed” and he retrained as a barber before venturing back into the performing world in 2022, when he launched Made For Stage UK.

He says starting his own academy is the “single greatest thing” he has ever done.

Simon said: “Retraining as a barber during Covid was a huge step in a totally different direction for me. The arts were massively hit during that time.

“I couldn't work in an office and becoming a barber seemed like a good choice. It was fun learning a new trade and was a new challenge for me.

“I spent two years working in some great places and meeting some amazing people, but in the end, I couldn't stop the pull I had inside of me to go back into the arts. 

“I have been extremely lucky and blessed to have worked alongside some truly incredible performers, on some of the biggest and best stages across the planet but even after having, worked professionally for more than 15 years, taking on the risk and opportunity of opening my own academy is the single greatest thing I have ever done.

“I couldn't have ever dreamed of things taking off the way they have. I still have to pinch myself to believe what we have achieved as an academy in just over two years. To go from nothing to over 150 cast members is truly unbelievable.”

Simon is thankful to cast and crew for helping him over the last two years.

He said: “I would like to point out that it isn't just me making the magic happen down at the academy. The team I am so lucky to have around me has also been the reason why we have taken off the way we have.

“Rebecca Crankshaw is now the academy creative director. She works as my number two on all aspects of creating the amazing things we do as well as teaching several of her own casts and lessons.

“Then there is Victoria Lee who is the Academy Manager and the best way to describe her is the glue that sticks everything together.

“Lastly, I would like to take a quick moment to say a huge thank you to everybody who's been involved with us for all the love and support you've shown since us we opened our doors. Without you all, Made for Stage would just be a pipe dream, so I am forever grateful. 

“I'd also like to say a special thank you to the whole team down at the Empire Theatre. They are the unsung hero's keeping that beautiful theatre running.

“If you know anybody who loves to sing, act and dance and would love to become part of one of our incredible casts, go over to our website today and join our ever-growing waitlist.”

You can get a ticket for Shrek at the Empire Theatre on the Blackburn Empire website at: www.blackburnempire.com