WHEN Laura Harrison last trod the boards at Warrington’s Priestley College she dazzled audiences as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers.
Now the 27-year-old from Woolston, is in Blood Brothers again – this time touring the country with an award-winning national production of the musical.
“Blood Brothers was our last show at Priestley so it’s really fitting that I am now part of the professional company,” said Laura.
“The major difference is that at Priestley we were doing it for educational purposes so everyone was given a role. On tour there is probably half as many cast members and I play numerous roles and have to change about 11 times.”
Laura, a former Woolston High School pupil, left Priestley with the top marks in the country for Performing Arts and also secured A-Levels in Drama and Music.
She then took home first class honours from the Cumbria Institute of the Arts and gained a distinction in MA Music Theatre at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Although not long into her career she has already been a face for Henry Holland, performed at the Royal Albert Hall for the Stephen Sondheim’s birthday proms, sang with Peter Andre, played numerous roles in Panto, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and dueted with Jason Manford at the Bridgewater Hall.
Now she is touring with the acclaimed production of Blood Brothers in which her title role is Donna Marie/Miss Jones Understudy Mrs Lyons but she also plays Marilyn Monroe, Nurse and Woman in Window.
Laura picks the moment she received the call telling her she had the latest part(s) as her career highlight so far.
“It’s amazing to be involved in something like Blood Brothers and it might sound a bit pretentious but I feel blessed every day,” she said.
For others wanting to pursue a life on stage Laura recommends being focussed on what is best for you.
“It is your journey and is not to be influenced by anyone else,” she said. “Work hard and be hard. You have to be tough in most jobs, but in this one rejection plays a big part of it, so toughen up if you need to.
“You are not going to get handed anything on a plate, so don’t expect to go to the bright lights of London and stroll into your Les Mis audition and land your main part in the West End. Be real, and be yourself.”
