West Sussex County Times

Friday 29th August 2008

CHOREOGRAPHER Joseph Fowler has worked with the likes of Dame Shirley Bassey and tenor Placido Domingo.Now he is in Horsham working on Shakespeare 4 Kidz' new project Romeo and Juliet which is previewing this coming week in the town.

"This is the first project I have done in England for a long time," explained globe-trotting Joseph."Shakespeare 4 Kidz is a company I have been aware of for many years."

This unique company was formed 13 years ago and creates short musicals to bring the bard's work to life for thousands of people young and old.

"The whole ethos of what we do is to really get people of all ages, but particularly young people, interested in what we perceive to be our cultural heritage," explained director Julian Chenery.

"Shakespeare is the only true world class icon we have in the arts.

"I can't think of another British artist that is known throughout the world."

He added: "As a company we have had a relationship with Michael Gattrell (manager of The Capitol) for years and years.

"For the past five years we have been rehearsing and producing out of here in association with The Capitol.

"It is one of the [most] fantastic theatres in the country."

The company includes a varied cast from those starting out in the industry to those who have been treading the boards for years. For Joseph, this is a chance to work in a very different environment, having worked on the continent for so long.

"Everything is done so quickly," he said of England.

"I am really blown away how hard everybody works here. We do long hours of rehearsing and we finish at half six every night.Everyone is totally together and everyone mucks in with everyone's work.

"In France this does not happen. The French do productions in a city and that is it. If you do not live in Paris or within proximity to it you miss out on 90 per cent on what is going on."

And he added: "With Shakespeare 4 Kidz the design of the show is a musical everyone can come and see.

"It is by no means a kids' exclusive show – you can really get something from it and have a really brilliant time.

"I totally believe in this show. Julian is really working with me hand in hand. He has very clear vision of what he wants and he has fabulous comic timing. He understands Shakespeare and is able to explain it in a very clear, precise and comical way."

Joseph trained at the Royal Ballet School before moving to Switzerland and dancing with Zurich ballet and then in Geneva. Now living in Paris, he has worked on an exciting new musical based on the book The Fly by David Kronenburg, alongside the tenor Placido Domingo.

"When you have the opportunity to work with people like that it is always a bit daunting," Joseph said of the singer. "However he is very easy going, he is very normal."

Other stars he has worked with includes Dame Shirley Bassey who he describes as 'fabulous'.

"She is temperamental but with me she has been an absolute angel," he confided.

The preview is on Friday September 5 at 7pm at The Capitol before it starts its tour.

It will return to The Capitol on Thursday February 12 2009 for just two performances at 1.30pm and 7pm.

Tickets for this preview performance are just £5 so don't miss out on this great opportunity.

Tickets: 01403 750220 www.thecapitolhorsham.com