Show full of firsts for Val

Midweek. Val Wilton, Masterton, has written a musical, Rhythmic Boots, which will be performed at Greytown Little Theatre in August. WAG 30Jun15 - STAGE TO PAGE: Val Wilton has written her own mus

Val Wilton has gone from "singing in the audience", to playing a Fairy Godmother, to having her original "all-singing, all-dancing" show performed on stage.

Masterton's Mrs Wilton has penned Rhythmic Boots -- a musical with singing orphans, tap dancing on sheet metal, rock n' roll numbers, and a show within a show.

The show, the first Mrs Wilton has written, will open at Greytown Little Theatre in August.

Mrs Wilton said she was approached about writing a musical by Little Theatre wardrobe mistress Jean Mullany and publicity manager Rosie Bibby -- and, despite being involved in theatre for "umpteen dozen years", she was initially reticent.

"Jean said to me, 'we need a musical, Val!' -- and then said 'why don't you write one?'

"My response was 'hell no'.

"But I started coming up with all these ideas while I was out weeding the garden -- and now, we've started rehearsals.

"It's really happening."

Mrs Wilton became involved with Greytown Little Theatre in the early 90s, after trying out for the musical Love in a Fowl House.

She was encouraged to audition by her husband, who would accompany her to the theatre and listen to her "singing in the audience".

"I begged my friend to audition with me, and she ended up bailing.

"But it went well, and they offered me a part -- thank goodness we had long frocks as costumes, as my knees were knocking the whole time."

Twenty years and "too many shows" later, Mrs Wilton began work on Rhythmic Boots, while taking time off to nurse a shoulder injury.

The show tells the story of a group of homeless youths who stage their own musical -- and was partially inspired by Mrs Wilton's own upbringing in Featherston.

"I was one of eight kids.

"There wasn't a lot of money, and we had to make our own fun."

She was also inspired by The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies, and the choreography of the popular percussion and physical theatre show, Stomp.

For example, the show involves characters dancing on sheets of iron and banging oil drums -- to a soundtrack of both 50s and 60s rock and modern pop music.

"There's lots of movement -- it's loud, rhythmic fun."

Mrs Wilton has now cast most of the parts, with actors from Carterton, Featherston and Martinborough on the bill -- including two young women whose voices "brought tears to [her] eyes."

She will also serve, in another first, as show director.

"It's scary, as I'm not a bossy person, but I do know what I want.

"I wasn't sure what people were going to think of it -- it's your own ideas you're putting out there, so I was a bit jittery.

"But everyone seems to be enjoying it."