Teenage dancer Keavy Smith, from Carrbrooke, Stalybridge, will get her big break this week appearing in the stage version of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny at Manchester Opera House.
The seventeen-year old has been hand-picked for the role, her first professional dance performance which includes a solo routine.
Keavy began dancing aged just three. She is currently studying dance at Manchester College and also attends Kirsten’s Dance Academy, Torque Youth Dance Company and Next Generation Youth Theatre, all in Tameside.
The former Mossley Hollins High School pupil has taken part in many dance events with performances including Alton Towers theme park and Wembley Stadium; she has competing in dance competitions across the North West with Kirsten’s Dance Academy; and in June she will perform at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End with Torque Youth Dance Company as part of Bobby Dazzlers.
Speaking of the opportunity to perform in Gangsta Granny at Manchester Opera House, Keavy Smith commented, “I am so excited to be a part of Gangsta Granny in Manchester. To have this opportunity is a blessing and I feel so lucky. You can achieve anything that you put your mind to and, with a lot of hard work and determination, something as big as this can come your way – and I hope I can inspire other young dancers. My younger sister is a massive fan of the Gangsta Granny book so she can’t wait to see the show.”
What is Gangsta Granny about?
It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake, and Ben knows one thing for sure, it’s going to be so boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!
“All you can do in this life is follow your dreams. Otherwise you’re just wasting your time”, explains Gangsta Granny.
Walliams puts the inspiration for Gangsta Granny firmly with his own grans, commenting, “When I was a child I would spend lots of time with my grandmas. Sometimes I would selfishly think spending time with them could be boring but when I got them on a subject like living in London during World War II when bombs were raining down, they would become very animated and I would be enthralled. I realised everyone has a story to tell.” He also acknowledges that there was a distinct small of cabbage at one of his grans, whilst the other did break wind like a duck quacking.
Where and when is Gangsta Granny being performed in Manchester?
Gangsta Granny runs at Manchester’s Opera House from Wednesday 7 June until Sunday 11 June 2017.
Performance times: Wednesday and Friday 10am and 7pm; Thursday 10am and 2pm; Saturday 10.30am and 2.30pm and Sunday 11am. Tickets are priced from £19.
