With just a week left till the second round of auditions for Ben Darmanin’s A Week in the Life, an ex-alumni of the high-end musical theatre training programme in London, Peter Camilleri tells Iggy Fenech what it’s really like to train with some of the West End’s best musical directors, choreographers, vocal coaches and directors.

It was 2012 when Ben Darmanin, a Maltese actor, singer and dancer with over 20 years’ experience on and off stage, decided to set up A Week in the Life. Yet, although this had been a dream of his for years, it was only made possible by the experiences he, himself, had been through and the contacts he had made along the way…

Among Ben’s most striking CV points are his former role as assistant to legendary theatrical producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, performing as a backing vocalist to Sir Elton John at Concert for Diana, and being on the casting team for The Patron’s Lunch, a parade made up of over 2,000 people organised as part of the official celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday, to mention but a few.

Over the past five years, however, Ben’s position (so figuratively close to London’s West End), as well as his role as the artistic director of the Margaret Howard Theatre College (MHTC), has enabled him to put together his contacts and experience to give local performing arts students the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to spend a week training with a myriad of West End coaches that, together, have worked on Les Misèrables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Billy Elliot, Matilda, The Lion King, Wicked and Hamilton.

Peter Camilleri was one of the students who enrolled in 2014.

“I have been an enthusiast of the arts my whole life,” says Peter, who is now managed by PMA London. “Having a remote chance to work with some massive names in the industry was an opportunity I simply couldn’t resist, in fact, I even hid my A-level mock results from my parents to ensure I would get to go… All I can tell you is that that didn’t go down well with the parents.”

At best, this could be the beginning of a stellar career in the West End limelight

Peter’s enthusiasm and talent were given a platform during A Week in the Life, however; and in 2014 he received a scholarship to the MHTC, from which he’s just graduated with a distinction in singing, acting and dancing, as well as with teaching certificates to help him in his career.

“Before going to A Week in the Life, I had my life planned out. I was going to go to University and study mechanical engineering. Everything was going as planned until I was given the opportunity to go study at MHTC on a scholarship. That was the moment my whole life changed, and I am so glad it did!

“The experience was completely mesmerising… Every day we had a schedule full of amazing tutors, and new and fun activities,” he continues. “Even today, I still look back with fondness at our tap lessons and hip hop classes as they were extremely interesting to me.”

Ironically – or, maybe, not so much – this follows the story of how Ben ended up on London’s West End, which only happened after he dropped out of University and ventured to the UK for a month to audition at seven schools. The rest, as they say, is history. Fourteen years later, Ben is now the only Maltese person to be appointed a Musical Theatre Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, the oldest conservatoire in the UK founded in 1822.

“Tutors have a habit of remembering faces and talent, so when it came to meeting these people later on in my life – either in classes or even auditions – they remembered who I was,” Peter says when asked if A Week in the Life opened new opportunities for him. “From that one week together, they could judge whether I was suitable for their type of work or class, and how hardworking I would be if they gave me any opportunities. That’s why it’s so important to leave a good impression in everyone’s mind, especially in this industry. Their opinion of you could make or break you.”

Through his week-long training programme, Ben has been giving performing arts students aged 14 and older the chance to test the waters for themselves and to figure out if this is the line of work that’s really for them…

“If you are looking for an authentic experience of what it’s like to work in this kind of hectic industry, then A Week in the Life is a must. Thanks to Ben, I have had the opportunity to meet some of the biggest names out there and, on top of being one of the best experiences of my life, it also introduced me to a bunch of amazing new friends,” Peter concludes.

With the next edition of A Week in the Life taking place in London between March 31 and April 7, 2018, the second round of auditions will be held this Saturday between 9 and 11am at St Martin’s College on Swatar Road, Swatar.

As Ben himself puts it: “At worst, this is an experience of a lifetime going behind the scenes with the people who put on the legendary West End shows; at best, this could be the beginning of a stellar career in the West End limelight!”

For more information and registration, visit www.aweekinthelife.co.uk.

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