Theatre fan says musical inspired acts of service



A theatre fan hoped to prove social action can be achieved in the arts and theatre industry by adopting the values showcased in a musical.

Lydia Greatrix, 25, from Colchester, first watched Come From Away in 2019, and has now seen the show 59 times.

The Olivier and Tony award-winning show tells of how residents in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, took in passengers who had been stranded when their planes were rerouted to the town after the US closed its airspace following the 9/11 attacks.

Ms Greatrix adopted the show's spirit of giving and at the tour's venues has organised food bank drives, litter-picks, beach cleans-ups and took a group of unpaid carers out for dinner.

The 25-year-old said the theme of giving, which runs throughout the show, aligned with her values and gave her "some hope in the world".

Craig Sugden A production shot from a scene in Come From Away. A man and a woman have their heads turned towards one another as they are stood on a line of wooden chairs. A group of people stand behind them, looking at them. The man is dressed in a blazer and chinos, and the woman in black trousers and a sand-coloured jacket. The spotlight is on the couple. Craig Sugden
Come From Away is currently showing at Norwich Theatre Royal

Ms Greatrix said: "She was such a bright light in the fanbase... she was always paying it forward and being so kind, what better way to honour her or remember her than do this tour for her."

Ms Greatrix is also the UK ambassador for Pay It Forward 9/11, which was set up by Kevin Tuerff, who was one of the air passengers taken to Gander in 2001.

Lydia Greatrix Lydia Greatrix is on the left hand side holding shopping bags. She is stood next to four other people in a line all holding shopping bags. They are all smiling at the camera. Lydia Greatrix
The fundraising efforts has also seen cast members get involved in the projects

The production is currently being performed at Norwich Theatre Royal, where a food bank drive has been taking place in aid of the Norwich Foodbank.

Ms Greatrix said one of the "real highlights" of the tour so far has been collecting 70 supermarket crates full of supplies for the Ipswich Housing Action Group.

She hoped the sentiment of her fundraising would carry on beyond the show's tour.

She said: "I hope it gives a signal to the theatre industry that things like this can be done, a difference can be made in your communities and social action can be done through the arts and through theatre."

John Brant, the producer of Come From Away, said he was "delighted" more people have been "inspired" by the show.

He said: "[Lydia] hasn't asked for anything very much, like the people of Gander... she wanted to honour her friend and follow our tour around at her own expense."

He said the company had left her to keep the project going and she "steamrolled" it.

"That is the message of Come From Away," he said.

"It's what [the show is] built on. It's built on a group of people from a very far flung place in the world [helping others]. They didn't ask for anything in return."

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