TWO members of Saffron Walden Musical Theatre Company will live the West End dream when they take part in a new production this weekend. Katherine Hare, who grew up in Wimbish, will make her West End directorial debut with Crazy For You, a one-off

TWO members of Saffron Walden Musical Theatre Company will live the West End dream when they take part in a new production this weekend.

Katherine Hare, who grew up in Wimbish, will make her West End directorial debut with Crazy For You, a one-off performance being shown at the London Palladium on Sunday (October 18).

And, despite never having attended theatre school, Saffron Walden's Gemma Holman will feature in the ensemble.

The charity production is part of a 'Showtime Challenge', with a cast and crew of over 120 rehearsing, putting on a fully staged, fully choreographed show in just 48 hours.

The cast are all professional actors, with many having starred in West End shows such as Les Miserables, Our House, Fame, We Will Rock You and Buddy.

This year's charity is Cecily's Fund, which provides education for orphaned children in Zambia. The charity was set up by Cecily's parents after she was tragically killed in a car accident while taking a gap year in the African country

Last year, Katherine was an assistant director on Me and My Girl, also at the Palladium, which raised over 20,000 for charity. She did such a good job that she was asked to come back this year as sole director.

Katherine has just directed a critically-acclaimed run of The Tenderland, and her next project will be a resident director Puss in Boots at The Corn Exchange, Berkshire, in which she will also play the role of Prim Rose.

Gemma has never attended theatre school and assumed her dream of performing in the West End would never be realised - so it really is a dream come true!

To find out more about The Showtime Challenge or to book tickets for The Palladium please visit www.showtimechallenge.co.uk