Lyndsey Vickers

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

In terms of timing, I think The Mikado was the first show I did, which was around 1994. I was there for about seven years, and I remember coming back later to do Bugsy Malone as well. I also have very strong memories of going to the Isle of Wight, visiting Shanklin, and performing on the stage there. After this, I joined the adult society, Solihull On Stage.

 

What are you doing now?

I am now a presenter, traveling the world to interview people, host awards dinners, compere events, and have worked in shopping television. I’ve also appeared in commercials and TV soaps.

 

What did being part of SOSage Factory mean to you?

Growing up as part of SOSage Factory, I loved being surrounded by a group of people who made me genuinely smile and belly laugh every single week. It was a place of escape for me a chance to build my confidence and realise that being on stage was a huge passion of mine as that evolved it turned out to be performing and then eventually into presenting . I also loved the great social life that came with growing up with friends I got to see each week, I always felt I had a good social life away from school and other clubs.

 

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

Looking back now, I have a deeper perspective. I feel being at SOSage Factory shaped who I am today. It gave me the confidence of knowing that it’s okay to be a little bit different and accepting of who you are and that you don't always need to follow the norm. Making mistakes, practicing routines, and working hard provided me with a foundation of skills that have truly carried through into my adult career. In terms of specific people, I actually think it was the group as a whole that makes for my favorite memories, the relationships and the moments we all shared together. One particularly strong memory was being in the room behind the church in Knowle, playing an improvisation game. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in my life as I did then, seeing all the incredible and comedic talent around me. I was probably one of the most shy in comparison to the rest of the group, but being with them allowed me to bring that side of myself out. It was my absolute favorite game, and I wanted to play it every week.

 

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

Being there 100% made an impact on my career. Having real-life experience on stage and learning the process it takes to get there going to rehearsals week after week and learning songs taught me that I always wanted to perform. The jobs I took afterward were almost always performance-based, and slowly but surely, I found a career that I love and wouldn’t change for the world. SOSage was the starting point for me.

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

When you're living it, you simply enjoy it. But when you look back, you miss it. Whenever you see people from those years whether out and about or on social media you can’t help but smile, knowing you shared such special memories together. It’s great to watch their journeys too.

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Anything else to add?

I must give a shout-out to people like Lucilla , Mel and Andy (the list is A LOT longer than this) but they give up so much of their time to allow young people to have these experiences. They might not realise just how much of an impact they’ve had in shaping people's lives for the future, but I am so grateful to them and everyone else who helped every week whether it was putting on a show , helping with makeup or with extra rehearsals or even when bringing in circus training, it’s all their time they have given up to help.