Alex Hammond

When were you part of SOSage Factory, and what shows were you involved in?

I was a part of SOSage for over 10 years. My first show was Curtain Up where SOSage had a little feature in the big SOS show, and then that was followed by Half a Sixpence, Dazzle, Bugsy Malone, The Pirates of Penzance, Honk, Calamity Jane and Les Mis with a host of summer concerts and trips to the Isle of Wight in between.

What are you doing now?

I am now Creative Director of The Hammond School in Chester (www.thehammond.co.uk) but have also been a professional performer since 2012 and have had the pleasure of being in some amazing shows including Matilda, Pretty Woman, Motown the Musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, My Fair Lady, A Little Night Music and Taboo.

What did being part of SOSage Factory mean to you?

Being a part of SOSage was a huge part of my childhood and teenage years. It’s where I met some of my closest friends and really realised that performing was the thing I loved more than anything else in the world.

Are there any particular memories, friendships or experiences that have stayed with you?

It’s difficult to pinpoint one memory particularly when it comes to the shows themselves, but in truth the thing that I loved most about SOSage was the rehearsals - putting a show together, developing the characters, getting into tech, trying on costumes for the first time, wearing a mic, being sat in a make up chair, standing in the wings. All of those magical moments I experienced for the first time at SOSage

Do you think being part of the youth theatre has had an impact on where you are today? If so, how?

I would never have become a professional actor had it not been for SOSage. It was the gateway to discovering the magic of theatre which I am still a deep believer in today

What would you say to a young person thinking about joining Solihull Youth Theatre today?

If you are a kid who doesn’t necessarily fit in, who perhaps feels they haven’t yet found their tribe or who just wants the opportunity to have a huge amount of fun and meet some brilliant people then youth theatre is the place for you. Being a part of a company is such a special experience and the memories you will inevitably make will stay with you forever, they certainly have with me.