Act Too went online with their Saturday morning drama, dance and singing sessions in the very first week of the lockdown and have continued to run a live show every weekend since. The group continue to offer a YouTube Saturday morning LIVE! show at 10.30am on their channel – all part of keeping going despite challenging times for budding young actors and performers everywhere. Students send in video responses to the exercises set by tutors each week and these are shared with everyone on the Saturday morning live show. “What’s more, this service is being provided totally free of charge and is not restricted to academy students,” says principal Lance Milton. “Any and all youngsters and their families are welcome to watch and join in and many have, from as far as Manchester! “However it is not only the Saturday mornings that have been keeping students connected and occupied. “They have also managed to continue with their holiday workshops. “These are a unique offering that has previously been called We Made a Musical and involve students writing and performing a full one-act musical in just five days. “We were not sure how or if this unique experience might translate online as these sessions are so dynamic and rely on our wonderful team of tutors. “But with Zoom, WhatsApp and a heck of a lot of dedication from the students, we did it. “And we did it twice!” During the Easter holidays and the May half term, Act Too tutors worked via the online portals to guide, develop and encourage the workshop performers to write their own show including songs. “The results were amazing and way better than we had expected” says Lance, who has been at the Act Too helm for 25 years this year. “The students worked so hard and there is nothing that can beat the incredible imagination and energy of our budding young performers. “They really did us and themselves proud. “Both of the resulting films are available publicly on the Act Too Arts Academy YouTube channel and are great family friendly entertainment. “The Easter show was titled STARS and focused on the wonderful job our fabulous NHS have been doing during the pandemic. “The most recent movie musical, MARS – The Musical, is a commentary on and solution to the predicament our theatre industry is facing due to social distancing. “It comes up with a solution to the problem.” Lance urges anyone looking for some truly original and enjoyable lockdown entertainment to click on the links and savour all the lockdown fun his young performers have come up with. You can see STARS on https://youtu.be/HcGhedTZvOQAnd you can see MARS - The Musical on https://youtu.be/wLm4iq1-OtQJust like their Saturday morning academy, Act Too are offering places on their future online workshops free of charge until they can re-open physically. “So if you would like to be a star in the next musical film or simply tune in or join in on Saturdays, then visit www.ActTooAcademy.co.uk,” Lance said. Why running is my lockdown release Chichester Singers combine musically in isolation for beautiful video Lockdown Laughs 4 Parents switches online for comedy in your own home Why walking is what we all need at the moment - especially in glorious Sussex Shakespeare’s Globe makes productions available to watch for free during lockdown How you can still enjoy Sussex delights... from the safety of your armchair Up close but safe: enjoy collections online at Royal Pavilion & Museums in Brighton Chichester orchestra records its own lockdown song Coronavirus: top ten tips for boredom-busting during quarantine Singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe live-streams daily message of hope during the coronavirus crisis Music "more important than ever" in our time of crisis, urges West Sussex Music Coronavirus: live streaming for Sunday morning services at Chichester Cathedral Coronavirus: Festival of Chichester 2020 cancelled ************* A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. Stay safe, and best wishes. Gary Shipton Editorial Director