West End Stars Join Forces In GRATEFUL Fundraiser September 12

Grateful, an evening of musical theatre and uplifting gospel music at Cadogan?Hall on Sunday September 12, will feature West?End stars, a 20-piece band and the West?End?Gospel Choir, to raise funds for the ground-breaking Intermission?Youth Theatre.

Based in St?Saviour's, Knightsbridge, a church that doubles up as a theatre, Intermission Youth Theatre uses acting and drama as a much-needed escape for young people from London's innercity communities. Founded in September 2007, Intermission Youth Theatre uses drama to reach out to young people aged between 14 to 20 and give them sense and purpose to their chaotic lives. Through weekly workshops and fully-staged theatre productions, these young people not only learn and develop their theatrical skills but also grow as individuals, inspired to make a positive contribution within their communities.

Grateful stars Anton Stephans, with LeAnne Jones (who won the Best?Actress in a Musical Olivier Award and Whatsontage Award for her first breakthrough role as Tracy Turnblad in the West?End production of "Hairspray") and Hannah Waddingham (Olivier?Award nominee for both playing the Lady of the Lake in "Spamalot"?and the 2009 West End revival of "A Little Night Music"). Others on the bill include Melanie LaBarrie, Cassie?Compton, Rebecca Caine, Ian Carlyle, Edward Baruwa and The?West End Gospel Choir.

West?End star Anton Stephans is the driving force behind Grateful. Over the past two years, Anton has been fighting a brain tumour as well as tumours on both his adrenal glands. It has without a doubt been the most difficult period of his life, but Anton is a fighter and he has made a complete and successful recovery. The idea for Grateful came to him while he was very ill. A collection of songs to uplift and inspire, he says: "I want there to be no sad songs! I want the audience to feel that they can face anything. They can overcome anything life throws at them!" Anton himself ovecame terrible abuse in his own early life - that started when he was born to a mother addicted to heroin. He found hope and later great success through drama. He got his first break in the West?End production of "Bugsy Malone" and has gone on to star in both the West End and in the US in musicals such as "Smokey?Joe's?Cafe"and Trevor?Nunn's Savoy?Theatre producton of "Porgy and Bess" (often playing the title role of Porgy). Discovered by Cliff?Richard, who overheard him singing in an office at a recording studio, he has toured extensively singing with Cliff, Mica?Paris, Tina?Turner and Oletta Adams.

"The work that Intermission Youth Theatre does with disadvantaged young kids is truly amazing," says Anton. "Working on new versions of Shakespeare that they can really relate to gives these youngsters respect and some structure in their lives. A creative outlet through drama really can give them hope and turn lives around. We just need to raise as much money as possible to continue this groundbreaking work."

www.intermissiontheatre.co.uk