0:00:04 > 0:00:06Everyone craves greatness.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10Everybody likes a winner.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13But success isn't a one-man show.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Order! Order!
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Behind every star is a team,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21immensely talented, powerful in their own worlds
0:00:21 > 0:00:23but invisible to us
0:00:23 > 0:00:24until now.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30These are the stories of the stars
0:00:30 > 0:00:33and the teams who strive to make them shine.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36This is the world of the VIP people.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49The West End of London in Convent Garden
0:00:49 > 0:00:51is home to an area called Theatreland.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Here, hundreds of performances of plays and musicals
0:00:54 > 0:00:56take place every year.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00It's on these stages that many stars began their showbiz careers.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10We're going to meet the people
0:01:10 > 0:01:13who turn children into stars of London's world-famous West End.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19We're going behind the scenes at Shrek The Musical
0:01:19 > 0:01:22at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane
0:01:22 > 0:01:25as the VIP people begin their search for a young girl
0:01:25 > 0:01:27to play the part of Princess Fiona.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32A team of VIP people will come together
0:01:32 > 0:01:34to transform a schoolgirl with a dream
0:01:34 > 0:01:36into a polished West End star.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42First off, a casting director will organise and run auditions.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Next, the musical director will improve her singing,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48an associate director will work on her acting,
0:01:48 > 0:01:53then it's over to wardrobe and wigs for fittings and dressing.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55And finally, the stage manager
0:01:55 > 0:01:58will get her used to performing her moves on the huge stage.
0:01:58 > 0:02:04But first, who will they choose to skilfully hone into a West End star?
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Shrek The Musical is about a princess
0:02:09 > 0:02:11who agrees to marry an evil king
0:02:11 > 0:02:15but ends up falling in love with the ogre who is sent to rescue her.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Part of the story shows the lives of the princess and the ogre
0:02:19 > 0:02:21when they were little children.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23It's the part of the child princess
0:02:23 > 0:02:27the show's VIP people are now auditioning for.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35It's the morning of the auditions.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Opening up the ballet room
0:02:37 > 0:02:40through the winding corridors of the Theatre Royal
0:02:40 > 0:02:43is the first of our VIP people,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47- casting director Jo Hawes.- Hello!
0:02:48 > 0:02:49As a casting director,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Jo helps productions to find the right actors for roles,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56and having invited girls to audition, she'll work closely
0:02:56 > 0:03:00with the musical director and the associate director
0:03:00 > 0:03:02to whittle down the perfect candidate
0:03:02 > 0:03:06with the potential and the pizzazz to succeed on the stage.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Obviously, the usual thing applies.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11If they come out with a letter, they've got a recall.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14If they don't, they haven't.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- Ssh!- Jo wanted to be in showbiz from the age of seven.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20By 15, she was working in costume
0:03:20 > 0:03:22and later moved into casting.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25She's cast children in Oliver, The Lion King,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27and Finding Neverland.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29'It's not like casting adults.'
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Smile. It's not the dentist!
0:03:31 > 0:03:32'But they do have'
0:03:32 > 0:03:35all the emotions that adults have, of course,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38the nerves, the uncertainty, the fear.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40I'm a bit nervous.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42She's just excited to be part of it, really.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Going to try and get it.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Even after years in the business,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50on audition day, Jo still gets nerves.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52I love days like this
0:03:52 > 0:03:54unless, of course, we get to the end of the process
0:03:54 > 0:03:57and find we haven't cast it. Then it's a bit of pressure.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01- Guys, can we start signing you in, please?- Here, sweetheart.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Jo's being helped by Danny and Cherry. As full-time chaperones,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07it's their job to look after the children
0:04:07 > 0:04:10every second they're away from their mums and dads.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12We don't have parents in the audition room
0:04:12 > 0:04:15because we want the children to perform to us, not to their parents
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and also because I never want to hear a parent say to their child,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20"You could have done that better."
0:04:20 > 0:04:23But before Danny and Cherry bring the girls into the audition,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25there's a difficult job to be done.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28I'm just hoping she's small enough to get in.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31This is the stick, so-called chipstick.
0:04:31 > 0:04:32It's five foot.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35It's very rare to be able to cast a child for theatre over five foot
0:04:35 > 0:04:39and in fact, in this case, we're looking at four foot six.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42- Uh...just over.- Oh! She's just over?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44We measured at home, properly.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I know, but this is our Bible.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49We have to go by this, I'm afraid.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50I'm really sorry. OK?
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Do I have to go home?
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Yes, sweetheart, I'm afraid.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Aw, never mind.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- OK. Let's go and get a treat, shall we?- Bye.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03If you'd like to go to Danielle if you've got a label on, please.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08The girls who are short enough are brought in to sing
0:05:08 > 0:05:12for the show's musical director Alan Williams
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and associate director Ben Wolf.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- Hello.- Come in.- Hello. - You might need to make two lines.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Jo needs to impress Alan and Ben with the girls she's brought.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23So if we could do it one by one,
0:05:23 > 0:05:25this is your chance to do a solo.
0:05:25 > 0:05:26One, two, three...
0:05:26 > 0:05:30# So I know he'll appear
0:05:30 > 0:05:33# Cause there are rules and there are strictures...
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Jo and the directors will be seeing 100 girls
0:05:37 > 0:05:40in groups of 20 over six hours.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42The aim in this audition is
0:05:42 > 0:05:45to get through to the second round of auditions in a few days' time.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48They sing...
0:05:50 > 0:05:52They act...
0:05:52 > 0:05:56They find out if they're through to the next round of auditions.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59So thank you all very much indeed for coming.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Well done! What was it like?
0:06:01 > 0:06:07What we're looking for is a very super voice for the number.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11It's a really important moment in the show, which gets huge applause.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Then the next group of girls come in to do the same thing.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18- OK.- So it's, "So I know..."
0:06:18 > 0:06:21# So I know he'll appear
0:06:21 > 0:06:26# Cos there are rules and there are strictures... #
0:06:26 > 0:06:28'The best way to impress at an audition'
0:06:28 > 0:06:33is for the child to come along absolutely prepared.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36'They needed to know it by heart, really well.'
0:06:36 > 0:06:39# Will look just like the pictures... #
0:06:39 > 0:06:42The song they sing is about a young princess
0:06:42 > 0:06:45locked in a tower awaiting rescue
0:06:45 > 0:06:47but after seeing 100 girls,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49neither Jo nor the directors are sure
0:06:49 > 0:06:52they've found the Fiona they're looking for.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54So, that was really hard.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58There's just four possibilities here we should keep in the mix.
0:06:58 > 0:06:59Out of 100 girls,
0:06:59 > 0:07:03around 20 have been asked to come back for a second audition.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06When I stood up, my nerves were, like, going...
0:07:06 > 0:07:07Yeah, same!
0:07:07 > 0:07:09- Feeling so amazed.- Amazing!
0:07:09 > 0:07:12"Many congratulations. We would like to offer you a recall."
0:07:12 > 0:07:14And that's on Monday.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Jo can only hope one of these girls is good enough
0:07:17 > 0:07:19to convince musical director Alan
0:07:19 > 0:07:22to give them the part of Princess Fiona.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Those that can sing it, that got the notes,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26they've got through to Monday.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- Hopefully, they'll practise over the weekend.- To say at this stage
0:07:29 > 0:07:31that we've got a Princess Fiona...
0:07:31 > 0:07:33I can't say that just yet.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It's the second round of auditions.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Everybody know me?
0:07:45 > 0:07:49The worst thing that could happen today is that we find no-one.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51You never know. I could get the part.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Well done for getting here today.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The man who will ultimately decide who gets the part
0:07:57 > 0:08:01is the next of our VIP people, musical director Alan Williams.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03You're great and we like you.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Alan's in charge of everything musical,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11from conducting the orchestra
0:08:11 > 0:08:14to perfecting every note from every cast member.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Alan will work closely with the associate director Ben
0:08:17 > 0:08:21and ensure his shows meet the highest musical standards.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Alan followed his childhood dream
0:08:25 > 0:08:27and trained as a conductor at music college.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29# I believe the story books I read... #
0:08:29 > 0:08:31When he left college,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33he used the contacts he'd made in theatre to get work
0:08:33 > 0:08:37and now he's the musical director of this show.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40# He, hee, ha, ho, hoo... #
0:08:40 > 0:08:42The thing I love about my job
0:08:42 > 0:08:44is being able to make live music every night.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Every day of the week, I get to play with talented people.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50As well as the girls who got through last time,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Alan's asked two girls who are standbys in the show to audition.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56# Oh, my gosh... #
0:08:56 > 0:08:59The standbys never get to play the role of Princess Fiona
0:08:59 > 0:09:01so in this audition process,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04we decided to hear those and audition them too,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06to give them a chance to be promoted.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08# Like someone else I know
0:09:08 > 0:09:10# As years go by, she sits and waits
0:09:10 > 0:09:12# As years go by? Uh-oh!
0:09:12 > 0:09:14# There's a princess
0:09:14 > 0:09:16# In a tower
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- # Oh, my gosh! - That's just like me... #
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- Alan knows exactly what he's looking for.- Today is not only
0:09:22 > 0:09:25about the singing, it's about their performance
0:09:25 > 0:09:27the whole package, what they bring to the role.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Unfortunately, most of these girls
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- won't get to be a princess this time.- Uh-oh.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36OK, Thank you very much indeed, girls. Thank you.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Straight across the corridor.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41I am a little disappointed.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Oh, well. There's loads of other auditions.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46The girls who have impressed now have a nervous wait
0:09:46 > 0:09:48to see if they've got the part.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53You can all now go. Thank you very much indeed. And I will be in touch.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56That doesn't mean no, it doesn't mean yes,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58it means I'm not saying anything now.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00A week later,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03and it's time to reveal who will be our Princess Fiona.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08This job goes to another of the VIP people, associate director Ben Wolf.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Do you want to just sit down?
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Ben's in charge of the show's acting, and directs all the cast.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21He collaborates with musical director Alan and the stage manager,
0:10:21 > 0:10:25and is the key to helping Princess Fiona to understand her character,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29how to walk, how to act and how to stand while performing her songs.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Let's go again from the top.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35After going to drama school, Ben started writing plays,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38which he directed himself in small theatres.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44This led to him getting jobs directing bigger plays,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47and now he is working on his first big West End musical.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50The scale of the production is something
0:10:50 > 0:10:52I have never experienced before,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55So one of the exciting things for me is to go on that journey
0:10:55 > 0:10:58with all these amazingly talented actors and dancers and singers.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00# You must be my lucky star... #
0:11:00 > 0:11:05It's now time for Ben to tell one lucky girl she's got the part.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Of all the kids, we found that the one we liked most we already had,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11but she was a standby in the company,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15a girl called Hannah Girling who we've asked to be our young Fiona.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18When Hannah arrives for another night on standby,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21chaperone Cherry takes her to Ben's office.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24But Hannah's got no idea why.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28We'd really like to give you the part of Princess Fiona.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30(SHE LAUGHS) Oh, thank you!
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- Will you accept it?- Yes! - Brilliant.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- I got the part! - Oh, that's brilliant!
0:11:42 > 0:11:43Now Hannah's been given the part,
0:11:43 > 0:11:48it's the job of the VIP people to turn into a fairytale princess
0:11:48 > 0:11:52capable of lighting up a West End stage.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55It's a step up for Hannah, having had this part
0:11:55 > 0:11:58as a standby, to now step up and be Princess Fiona.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01I haven't done anything in the West End before.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03But I've done local shows.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08It's now up to Ben to help Hannah through the first steps on her journey.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12The challenge for him is he only has ten days to do it.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Time is really ticking for us, and because of the way the theatre works, we can't be on stage
0:12:16 > 0:12:19most of that time, so the time we have on stage is precious.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21In this rehearsal, Ben's telling Hannah
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and two other new girls in the show about Princess Fiona's life.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Her parents, and it's a bit weird,
0:12:26 > 0:12:31have sent her away to some tower in the middle of nowhere, guarded by
0:12:31 > 0:12:36a dragon, only so that at the end of the story she gets rescued by a prince.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40- What do you think it's like being locked away in a tower?- Horrible.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- Boring.- Horrible, boring, yeah, really boring.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47They need to know why their parents sent them away,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50and then what it's like when they are in the dragon's tower.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55There's a princess in a tower. Oh, my gosh, that's just like me.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58To help Hannah understand what it feels like to be locked in a tower,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Ben asks her questions about the words in the song.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06What do we know is happening in that first verse of the song?
0:13:06 > 0:13:10- She's locked in the tower. - Like Rapunzel.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Yeah, and the witch won't set her free.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15And Fiona's parents won't let her go.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Onstage, as in any performance, if you can imagine something,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20you can tell the story more clearly.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23By getting Hannah to imagine Fiona's life,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27Ben has helped her become a better actress.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30I believe the story books I read by candlelight.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34My white knight and his steed would look just like the pictures.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36That's really good. You got a clear idea,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38I think, about what the story of Princess Fiona is.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41# It's not about the money, money, money... #
0:13:41 > 0:13:44When she's not practising to be a princess, Hannah and her theatre friends
0:13:44 > 0:13:47sometimes play pranks on their chaperones.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50They had jam doughnuts, and they slurped all the jam
0:13:50 > 0:13:53out of the doughnut and put ketchup inside them.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Having checked her doughnuts for ketchup,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01chaperone Cherry takes Hannah to meet the next of the VIP people,
0:14:01 > 0:14:02head of wardrobe Alice Fitzgerald.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06The thing I love most about my job is that it's never the same.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07It's always different.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Alice is in charge of costumes, and once Hannah's Princess Fiona
0:14:13 > 0:14:16costume is fitted, she will work with her team to clean, repair
0:14:16 > 0:14:22and keep this and all the other amazing costumes worn by the rest of the cast
0:14:22 > 0:14:26as stunning and sparkly as they were on the first night.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31Alice began a career in costume by studying fashion at University,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34and then got jobs in wardrobe departments in theatres.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38# Don't need to make up to cover up... #
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Eight years after getting her first job,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44she's in charge of over 200 costumes for this show,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47which features a lot of famous fairytale creatures.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52# The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
0:14:52 > 0:14:53# But when you smile at the ground... #
0:14:53 > 0:14:58Pinocchio costume. It's all printed to look like wood.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00# You don't know... #
0:15:00 > 0:15:05This donkey costume is the most expensive we have in the show.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Each individual suede thong is hand-knotted.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Donkey is played by comedian Richard Blackwood.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15And it takes about a month just to do this one costume.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Some of the costume changes in the show have to happen in under a minute.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22It's the job of Alice
0:15:22 > 0:15:25and her team of dressers to make sure these go smoothly every night.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Our quickest change in the show is from a guard into the wolf,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and it's incredibly fast.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38He's got to change complete costume and make-up and wig,
0:15:38 > 0:15:43and he has about eight people attacking him at one time to change him.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45Amazing. Thank you.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Luckily for Alice, Hannah's Princess Fiona costume
0:15:53 > 0:15:55is nowhere near as complicated.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59- Is it tight anywhere?- No, it's fine. - Lift your arms a bit.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01I think I will get more into the character
0:16:01 > 0:16:03because I will be wearing the costume.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10So far, the VIP people have whittled 100 girls down to the one
0:16:10 > 0:16:11who will play Princess Fiona.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15She's been taught to act and been kitted out in the costume.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Still to come, they have just five days to teach her to sing, dance,
0:16:19 > 0:16:24get her hair right and help her get to grips with the enormous stage.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Also, we see the VIP people turn a young girl into an ogre.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34It was the second of our VIP people, Alan Williams,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36who gave Hannah the part of Princess Fiona.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Now it's his job to make sure
0:16:38 > 0:16:41every note she sings is absolutely perfect.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45She's learned the song in auditions and by seeing the show.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49But it's very approximate. She needs to get to grips with the real detail.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53The way Alan does this is by practising the song word by word.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57But, just hold on - buuuut... But don't carry on.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01GIRLS: # Buuuut... #
0:17:01 > 0:17:02Well done.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Alan may love his job, but it doesn't come without its dangers.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09GIRLS: # Twenty-three... #
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Hannah, I got absolutely drenched then.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14A lot of girls do this "tuh" thing,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17which sort of means that you could get spat on.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21And when you've got a microphone on, which the girls will on stage,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24the "tuh" explosive sound can really pop in the system.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29- # Twenty-three... #- Practise it a few times. That's better, perfect!
0:17:32 > 0:17:36There are three days left until Hannah
0:17:36 > 0:17:40sings in front of 2,000 people at the Theatre Royal in London.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46Today, Hannah and the other girls in the show are rehearsing
0:17:46 > 0:17:48on the stage for the first time.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Yay! Yay, we're on stage.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56It's not bad, is it?
0:17:58 > 0:18:01This is one of the biggest theatres in London.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Right now I feel a bit nervous and a bit excited at the same time.
0:18:05 > 0:18:12- She learns some funky steps with a dance supervisor.- # Oh, yeah... #
0:18:13 > 0:18:17She practices her song with Carley Stenson, who plays the adult princess.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20# (FIONAS) Look just like that picture... #
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- Yeah, that is better.- And works on her acting with director Ben.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30That's a very good question, where do you look?
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Do you see where that middle circle is?
0:18:32 > 0:18:35It is all getting more technical now, exciting.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39We've got the clouds flying in. They've got the tower cloth in. There's the balcony.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41There's lots of big bits of stuff.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44In charge of all this stuff is one of the VIP people,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47stage manager Chris Hesketh.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Can we stand by, please?
0:18:50 > 0:18:54As stage manager, Chris, or Heskey as he's known,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57makes sure that everything director Ben and musical director Alan
0:18:57 > 0:19:00want to happen happens safely.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02From flying clouds to moving bridges,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04it's his job to teach Hannah
0:19:04 > 0:19:09and all the cast members how to be on stage without getting hurt.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12If Heskey's not happy, he can stop a show, even during a performance.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19Heskey wanted to work in theatre since he was eight years old.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22He used to do sound and lighting in his school plays,
0:19:22 > 0:19:26and went on to study it at drama school.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Since then, he's run some of the biggest West End shows
0:19:28 > 0:19:31like Hairspray and Dirty Dancing.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Make sure you are on there all the time. Never step off it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35I love being in the theatre.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38And at the end of the night, when you hear the crowd, that's not just
0:19:38 > 0:19:41for the cast on stage, that is for everybody that works on the show.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43# Today... #
0:19:43 > 0:19:47In the show, Hannah magically leaves the stage behind a cloud.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Heskey is showing her how to do this.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53You go a little bit quick just to make sure you clear the clouds,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and just let that touch the back of your legs.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57And then stop, and you will be safe.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01You are going to follow it off that way, OK? Does that make sense?
0:20:01 > 0:20:03- Do you want to give it a shot?- OK.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07# Day number twenty-three... #
0:20:07 > 0:20:12So, now she needs to remember how to sing, where to look,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15and maybe she needs eyes in the back of her head.
0:20:17 > 0:20:18Oops! Try again.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23It sounds easy, but when you're thinking of different
0:20:23 > 0:20:26other things at the same time, it is quite hard.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28You're just wobbling about everywhere.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Is one of the VIP people, Heskey uses his stage knowledge
0:20:32 > 0:20:34to make it easy for Hannah.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37You'll see the marks in front of you. When you get to about here,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40just slow down and you can slowly walk back.
0:20:42 > 0:20:48# I know it's today. I know it's today. #
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Magic.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56If that feels like a lot to deal with, one thing Hannah won't
0:20:56 > 0:20:59have to do is sit through massive make-up sessions.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03While Princess Fiona only needs a bit of blusher for her part,
0:21:03 > 0:21:07every night, the girl playing the baby ogre has to sit
0:21:07 > 0:21:11very still in a chair while head of make-up Lolly Goodship works her magic.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18It is a heavy, heavy make-up show.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Most of the characters have prosthetic make-up.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27That involves putting on a bald cap,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31the foam latex cowl, and then all the silicone pieces.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45After the nose and eyebrows go on,
0:21:45 > 0:21:50the final touch is to give baby ogre some cute freckles.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Let's go.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Before the big day of her performance,
0:22:02 > 0:22:06there's one more of the VIP people Hannah has to see.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09His name is Stefan Musch...
0:22:09 > 0:22:10Hi!
0:22:10 > 0:22:12..and he is head of wigs.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Stefan is in charge of over 150 wigs
0:22:19 > 0:22:22that are worn by the cast of the show.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24He'll work to the director Ben
0:22:24 > 0:22:26and needs to make sure Hannah's wig's perfect
0:22:26 > 0:22:30for every single performance, cleaning, restyling and prepping it
0:22:30 > 0:22:34so it looks more Princess Fiona and less Prince Harry.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Stefan comes from a family of hairdressers in Germany.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43During a childhood trip to see Starlight Express,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47he discovered a passion for wigs and went on to study wig-making.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57OK, this is Hannah's wig.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59The wig is made of human hair.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02You have to love hair and wigs.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07So, at one point this hair belonged to a person.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09They give it to the wig-maker.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12While Stefan enjoys fitting the wigs...
0:23:12 > 0:23:13- Shiny!- Very shiny.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15..he also has to look after them.
0:23:15 > 0:23:21After every performance we undo the ponytail, we brush it out,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24we give it a little bit of a shine spray.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26That's it, Princess.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28- Thank you.- You're welcome.
0:23:28 > 0:23:29And that is it.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32After being chosen from 100 girls to play a princess
0:23:32 > 0:23:37in a West End show, there's just one more sleep until curtain up.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39The work of the VIP people is almost done.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Thanks to casting director Jo who helped get her the part,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46to Alan, who helped her sing, and Ben, who helped her act,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49to the wardrobe, wigs and stage manager,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Hannah's now ready to sing on a West End stage for the first time.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59It's the day of the performance.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11In less than an hour, Hannah will be singing in front of 2,000 people.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Mum and Dad are sitting in that box, box B.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18Hello!
0:24:18 > 0:24:22We're really excited, and nervous.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24We feel like we are going to be doing the show, as well.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28To pull it off, she'll have to remember everything
0:24:28 > 0:24:31her VIP people have taught her.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36When I went to bed, I was thinking about it all going wrong.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Everything went wrong, like everything!
0:24:38 > 0:24:40This is the big day, it's really exciting.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42- How you feeling, Hannah?- Good.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44'Hannah's worked so hard,'
0:24:44 > 0:24:47and hopefully it's all going to pay off.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50It's now time for Hannah to become a fairytale princess.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Woo!
0:25:02 > 0:25:04I think Hannah will be really nervous,
0:25:04 > 0:25:05but she's very professional,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08so she'll be keeping calm.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10I think she'll be more excited, and I bet she can't wait
0:25:10 > 0:25:14to get on that stage, and I can't wait to see her on it.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Yes, she will be nervous, you know, because when the audience is there
0:25:17 > 0:25:21it's very real and it's you and the audience, but she's got what
0:25:21 > 0:25:24it takes to take it through, otherwise she wouldn't be here.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26There we go!
0:25:26 > 0:25:29There's a couple of minutes now until the show starts.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33The audience is behind that big screen thing.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:25:43 > 0:25:48In less than 30 seconds, Hannah will sing her solo on a West End stage.
0:25:52 > 0:25:53Smile, enjoy it, OK?
0:25:59 > 0:26:01MUSIC
0:26:14 > 0:26:17# There's a princess, in a tower
0:26:17 > 0:26:21# Oh my gosh, That's just like me... #
0:26:21 > 0:26:23'The moment I turned around on stage'
0:26:23 > 0:26:25and the gauze had just moved,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28and I saw the audience for the first time, I felt...
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I was freaking out, in my head!
0:26:31 > 0:26:36# It won't be long now, I guarantee
0:26:36 > 0:26:40# Day number...23
0:26:42 > 0:26:45# I know it's today
0:26:45 > 0:26:49# I know it's today... #
0:26:50 > 0:26:53As soon as I started singing the song, I felt...
0:26:53 > 0:26:57all right, but a bit tense in the back of my neck,
0:26:57 > 0:27:03because it's a scary thing, cos it's like the first time to do it.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Whatever she was feeling, it doesn't affect her performance.
0:27:06 > 0:27:13# I know it's today. #
0:27:14 > 0:27:17APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Hannah leaves the stage to huge applause.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29That's it, she's done it!
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Well done.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32she did brilliantly, she did so well.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36She absolutely nailed it, she did the ending perfectly.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38That was fantastic.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Thanks to the hard work of the VIP people,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43another star of the West End stage is born.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46# I come home in the morning light
0:27:46 > 0:27:51# My mother says "When you Gonna live your life right?"
0:27:51 > 0:27:55# Oh, Mama dear, We're not the fortunate ones,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59# And girls, they wanna have fun
0:27:59 > 0:28:03# Oh, girls just wanna have fun... #
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd