Daughter will follow in her mother's acting steps

Jan 26 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

ACTING certainly runs in the family for one mother and daughter. Marie McAndrew, 42, took to the stage in Morpeth Pantomime Society’s first-ever show, Little Red Riding Hood, when she was just 11 years old.

Thirty years later and her daughter Charlotte, also 11, is following in her footsteps.

Charlotte will be performing in the chorus of the society’s production of Aladdin next week. She will be acting alongside mum Marie, who plays the lead role.

Marie – who works as an NHS manager when she’s not treading the boards – said: "I joined the society when I was young, and I was in almost every show up until Charlotte was born – sometimes in the chorus, or sometimes with a part. I decided I wanted to go back this year, and I asked Charlotte if she wanted to come along – and she said yes.

"She has really enjoyed it, and made a lot of friends. I am very proud of her."

The mother-and-daughter team, from Bedlington, Northumberland, have been rehearsing for the show since September, and enjoying every minute of it.

"Its something we have both really loved doing," said Marie. "We will definitely be carrying on with it next year."

Marie and Charlotte also share another hobby, Both took dance classes when they were younger, although Charlotte swapped ballet pumps for football boots when she joined her school soccer team.

But son Jack, seven, doesn’t seem destined for the theatre – yet. Marie said: "He keeps asking me, ‘Do you have to be on the stage? Do you have to be in the paper?’

"He asked me if I had to sing. When I told him yes, I did, he said, ‘Well can you at least sing in tune!’ I think he’s a bit embarrassed by it all."

The rest of the McAndrew family – those without the acting bug – will be in the audience on Saturday to watch Marie and Charlotte in action. Some of Charlotte’s friends from St Wilfred’s Middle School in Blyth are also going along to support her debut.

The show is also a milestone for the Morpeth Pantomime Society, marking its 30th Anniversary. Chair of the society, David Clarke, said: "We try to be a family-orientated, community group. It’s nice to have a good cross-section of people to put on a good show.

"We try to encourage younger people to come along. Often their parents will come to watch, or help out behind the scenes, and end up on the stage themselves."

Marie added: "I have known some of the members for 30 years. Many of them came to my 40th birthday party.

"Even when I wasn’t acting because of the children, I still always went along to the shows.

"We are like a big family – the director’s sons are my godsons. We are all very close."

Aladdin, written by David Swan and produced by Peter Denton, will run from Wednesday, January 28 to Saturday, January 31 at King Edward VI School in Morpeth. Performances are at 7pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

:: Tickets cost from £4 and are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Morpeth Town Hall.