Talented singers and dancers helped to raise more than £6000 for cancer charities at a concert in Helensburgh last month.
Matinee at the Musicals returned for its fourth event on February 26, with more than 60 performers taking to the stage at Hermitage Academy.
This year, the singers were joined by dancers from Urbaniks Street Skool of Dance, and musical theatre students from Ian R McLeod Theatre School.
The money raised at the concert will go to the Beatson Cancer Charity and Rainbow Valley Cancer Charity – both of which are close to the heart of organiser Donna Hicks.
Last month, she told the Advertiser how she lost her mother to the illness in 2014, with her father dying in 2019 following a cancer diagnosis.
Everybody has been affected by cancer in some way shape or form, either directly or indirectly. Nobody can escape it – it’s always there.
Donna Hicks
Donna is also living with cancer herself, and regularly attends the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.
She said the support for last month’s concert was “overwhelming”, with around 400 people attending the show.
Donna asses: “We are delighted that so many people coming out to support us despite Scotland playing rugby that day and a certain football cup final taking place!
“Angela McVicar from Rainbow Valley Cancer Charity thanked the audience at the end for their support and made the point that being a small charity, they rely on every penny donated.
“Maisie McCormack, community fundraising manager from the Beatson Cancer Charity, echoed what Angela said and expressed her gratitude to the cast who had put on such a fantastic show and also to the audience and volunteers who supported the event.”
Donna organised the concert with the help of friend and musical director Pamela Frew, but the team were thrown a curveball at the last minute.
Pamela fell unwell with Covid on the morning of the show, as did her husband, Alex, and singer Megan Gall, who were also in the cast.
Donna said: “We missed them all so much, but as they say, the show must go on!
“Our pianist Collette McEwan stepped into Pamela’s shoes, and our extremely talented cast filled in the gaps.
“This show was a huge undertaking and wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of so many people.
“I’m grateful to Pamela Frew for being my ‘wing woman’ and friend.”
The organisers thanked Andrew Turnbull, Dave Dunbar, David Crombie, and Brodie Stevenson for taking care of the technical aspects.
They also thanked Scottish Industrial Reprographics and Think Solutions Ltd, who sponsored the event, and Bethesda Christian Fellowship, who provided rehearsal space.
Donna added: “Finally, the biggest thank you goes to each and every cast member - each performer was simply incredible. Some cast members have been involved since we first started these fundraising concerts in 2018, and this year we welcomed some new talent. They were an amazing bunch of people to work with and I’m so grateful for their commitment to this project, it means the world to me.
“Every member of my family were involved. My husband Aaron helped with the front of house arrangements, Ollie, 18, played the electric guitar in the band, Conor, 15, assisted with sound and Emily, 9, danced with Urbaniks and performed with Ian R McLeod Theatre School.
“We are already talking about a Matinee at the Musicals 5, so watch this space!”
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