Sydnie Christmas Takes Us Behind The Scenes Of Starlight Express | This Morning

Musical fans, hold on to your helmets because Starlight Express is back. Yes, Andrew Llewellyn's Roller Skating Musical, sorry buddy, has returned to London and to celebrate we sent our very own Sydney Christmas, a Starlight Express veteran, to see if she's still got what it takes to roll with the best. Welcome to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, the new state-of-the-art home for the show that's been simmed by 20 million people worldwide. It's brought to life by a cast and crew of 140 people and powered by the epic music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Welcome to Starlight Express. Starlight Express is the show that rocks while it rolls and tells the story of trains who constantly battle to discover who is the fastest. But in the world of diesel, electric and state-of-the-art hydrogen, can the humble steam train Rusty, plagued by Jeevan Brash, triumph? There is actually a reason that this morning got me here to do this segment today, well actually two. One, I don't think the insurance company would let Alison and Josie go near a pair of skates, true story. And number two, prior to winning BGT, I was actually in Starlight Express in Germany. And let's see if I still have what it takes to rock and roll. Nobody can do it like a steam train. Hello guys. I want to see Alison. I'm joking, I'm joking. Guys, good to see you. You look amazing. Thank you. Good to see you. Right, Jeevan, you play Rusty. I do. Kaina, you play Pearl. I do. Rusty has a thing for Pearl. And in the end, Pearl has a thing for Rusty, which is obvious because you know, woo woo. Nobody can do it like a steam train. I've seen it before, can you tell? But for people that haven't seen it before, what can we expect? Well, I can tell you, or better yet, I can show you. Let's go. Here we go. So yeah, as you can see, it's not like a regular show. We've got the stage and the audience immersed together from all angles. Yeah, and because we're so close to the audience, they can always feel the wind as we skate past, which is very cool. Oh, and yes, I could definitely feel the wind when I was sitting in the audience. Woo! I had to stop. I need to get my breath back, guys. Yeah. Guys, something that I'm really impressed by, it's both your professional stage debuts. Yes. You've just got the Best Performer in a Musical award. I'm so proud of you. Thank you. That's absolutely fantastic. Thank you. Yous are on fire. Apparently, just like your costumes, dear. There we go. Like the match. I've got an awesome backpack here, which spays out steam every so often, just to prove that I'm a steam train. Fantastic. Thank you. Yeah, and it's also great we've got all of our protective gear included in the costume, and it blends in so well, you can barely even notice it, and it's great. That's fantastic. Yeah, I'm rock solid. So guys, I was told that your cast is the hottest thing on stage right now, but that's not quite true in this theatre, is it? Yeah, there's not too many rules in Starlight, but a big one is don't stand too close to the barrels. I think that's pretty good advice. The barrels and all of the state-of-the-art effects are coordinated from the control room. Yeah! So, while I'm here, where better to meet the new state-of-the-art character, Hydra, played by my lovely friend Jaden. Look at you. Hello, mate. I look cool, don't I? You look proper cool. Also, I've seen in the show you do some wicked tricks. Where did you learn how to do them? Well, obviously in skate school for Starlight, so I was one of the ones, like everyone before it, you know, bringing their agent, being like, oh yeah, I can skate, I can skate. Get me in the room, drop me a line for your team. I've learned some cool tricks, which I stick in the show. I do a little jump, 360 back down the bowl, a little one-footed spin. And I'd better get my skates on, as my final stop is back on stage to try and learn some of the London show's all-new dance routines. Actually, I'm here. Same with me. Choreographed by Ashley Nottingham. When it debuted in 1984, Starlight Express was considered cutting edge. So, how has Ashley brought the choreography up to date to excite modern audiences? So, in 1984, Arlene Phillips, John Napier and Trevor Nunn did a musical on roller skates. So, we are doing the same idea, but a completely fresh vision. And so, choreographically, I researched. And what has evolved over the 40 years is a technique called jam skating. And it's a very fluid way of moving, which looks like mercury. It looks magical. So, I've enjoyed diving into that with this fresh new vision. Okay. Beauty, next. Struts. So, I haven't been on my skates for two years. And you are putting me through my paces today. How am I doing? Have I got a chance? Teaching you so well. Maybe just a little bit more hip. Thank you. A little bit more hip? I've heard that before. So, guys, after literally seven minutes rehearsal, I have now learned the rap. And I will show it to you guys now. Safely, hopefully. Right. Ashley, take it away. Five, six. Come on. One and two and three and a four. Pause, five and a six, seven and an eight. Down, one, two, three and a four. Five and a six. Set, set, set. Turn, turn. You got it. Andrew. I'll come back. I will. How good is she? I can't believe she was in that show. Unbelievable. And do you know the choreographer? The choreographer? Yeah. He choreographed my panto last year. No. Ashley Nottingham, yes, he did. He's the reason why. He said, Alison, you shouldn't be in this panto. You should have your own show where you dance. What a surprise. That's the story you chose to tell. Hi, everyone. Let's do a TikTok. I was there. It was great. Thank you, Sydney. That was absolutely brilliant. Hi, Birmingham. That's amazing. Starlight Express runs till October. Hi, everyone. 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