From Scratch to Spotlight: A 24-Hour

Upstage Competition Team Showcase

Starter Pack
Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsal – Saturday 8th February (9am – 9pm) 12 HOURS
Rehearsal – Sunday 9th February (12pm – 6pm) 6 HOURS
Then we have 6 Hours Left!!!
Tech Day – Monday 10th February (TBC)
Show Day – Wednesday 12th February (5pm – 10pm)
Make sure to rehearse all your material, in your own time on our day off on
Tuesday 11th February as this falls directly between our tech run and the actual
performance.
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Your Brief:
Our Finale Number: We Will be Loved Anyway – from My Son’s a Queer (But
what can you do?)
THE BACKING TRACK AND LYRICS ARE ON THE DRIVE!
Our Shows message: Through personal experiences, whether real or
dramatized, our show explores the challenges we’ve faced in pursuing the arts,
self-doubt, societal expectations, and the search for belonging. But despite it all,
we’ve found a home in theatre, a place where we can truly be ourselves.
This show is about more than just performing; it’s about the friendships we’ve
made, the lessons we’ve learned, and the moments that changed us forever. It’s
about the resilience of dreamers and the power of creativity to unite us.
At its core, our message is simple: No matter who you are, where you come from,
or what obstacles stand in your way, your passion, your story, and your love for
theatre will always have a place. And that’s why, in the end, we will be loved
anyway.
Your Task: Work backwards from this final moment to craft a cohesive story (in
the form of a musical) that reflects YOUR journey!
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Help and Support
Things to Keep in Mind
1. You are telling YOUR stories—but they don’t have to be literal.
 Feel free to exaggerate, dramatize, or fictionalize your experiences.
 Think about how your story could be adapted to fit into a theatrical world
with unique characters.
2. Give your characters names, quirks, and challenges.
  You don’t have to play yourself—create characters that reflect aspects of
your journey
Example: Instead of “Jack Mellon who loves theatre, but his parents disapprove,”
you could have “Max, a struggling artist who secretly performs in an
underground theatre troupe.”
3. Think in theatrical terms!
 How can your struggles be turned into conflicts?
 What dramatic or comedic elements can be heightened to make it
engaging?
Plot Structure Ideas
Here are a few plot framework ideas to help you shape the show:
A. The Rehearsal Storyline
 A group of students come together to put on a show, each with their own
struggles and reasons for being there.
 Through working together, they learn about themselves and each other,
eventually overcoming their obstacles through the power of theatre.
 Could include funny backstage moments, drama, rivalries, and personal
breakthroughs.

B. The “Found Family” Storyline

 A misfit group of strangers, each with their own challenges (family
pressure, self-doubt, financial struggle), find solace in a theatre group that
becomes their chosen family.
 Their stories unfold as they bond over rehearsals and performances.
 Could include montages of their struggles at home vs. their joy in theatre.

C. The Fictional World Storyline

 The characters live in a town where creativity is banned, and theatre is
seen as rebellious.
 They secretly form an underground theatre group to fight against societal
expectations.
 Could include themes of self-expression, friendship, and rebellion against
the norm.

D. The Time Travel / “What If” Storyline

 A student struggling with whether to pursue theatre is visited by versions
of themselves from different timelines:
 One who followed their passion, and one who didn’t.
 The story shows how their life could unfold in different ways.
 Could include comedic fantasy elements and heartwarming realizations.
How to Structure Your Show
Here’s a simple outline to keep your story clear and engaging:
Act 1 – The Beginning
 Introduce the characters and their struggles.
 Show what obstacles they’re facing (parents, money, self-doubt).
 A big event (auditions, first rehearsal, a challenge) pushes them forward.
 First big group number to set the tone.

Act 2 – The Middle (Challenges & Growth)

 Characters face setbacks, doubts, and conflicts with each other.
 They learn lessons, support each other, and grow in confidence.
 Maybe an outside force threatens to shut them down (school cutting
funding, a rival group, etc.).
 Emotional song where they reflect on why theatre matters to them.

Act 3 – The End (Resolution & Celebration)

 They put on the big show, proving how much they’ve grown.
 Final triumph over the obstacles they faced.
 Final number: “We Will Be Loved Anyway,” bringing all their stories
together.

Quick Character Creation Tips

Create well-rounded characters with:
 A Goal: What do they want? (To prove themselves? To make friends? To
feel accepted?)
 A Fear: What’s stopping them? (Fear of failure, rejection, not being good
enough.)
 A Strength: What makes them special? (Determination, kindness, humour,
are they the villain / a bitch?)
Example Character Profiles:
 Chloe: A talented singer whose parents disapprove of her theatre dreams.
She hides her rehearsals and struggles with self-doubt.
 Liam: The comic relief who uses humour to hide his insecurities about
being good enough.
 Sarah: The perfectionist director trying to control everything but learning
to let go.

Making It Theatrical
Here are some ways to make your story fun and stage-friendly:
 Use Narration: Have a character narrate their experiences like a diary or
breaking the fourth wall.
 Montages: Show time passing with quick scenes or musical numbers.
 Fantasy Sequences: Let characters imagine their “what if” moments
through songs and dances.
 Symbolism: Use props or recurring themes (e.g., a notebook, a costume
piece that represents their dream).

Helpful Prompts to Start Scenes

If you’re stuck, use these to get things going:
 “What if we weren’t allowed to do theatre? How far would we go to make it
happen?”
 “Imagine a world where musical theatre saved lives—what would that look
like?”
 “What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken to be in a show?”
 “What does your dream performance look like, and what’s stopping you
from achieving it?”

Musical Number Ideas

Use existing songs or create your own moments like:
 “The Audition Song” – Everyone trying to prove themselves in hilarious or
heartfelt ways.
 “I Want” Song – Each character sings about their dreams and fears.
 “The Setback” Song – A group number when things fall apart but they
push through.
 “The Finale” – Everyone coming together and celebrating their love for
theatre.

Final Advice:
 Have fun and don’t overthink—start with what excites you!
 Work as a team and play to each other’s strengths.
 Remember: It’s not about perfection; it’s about celebrating our love for
theatre. However, it does need to be really polished and show stopping
(meeting or exceeding the standards of the normal upstage showcases)
considering we are the “Elite” Competition team.

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Tickets
Tickets are £5 each (however including Eventbrite’s tax fee, per ticket, it’s =
£6.13)
We need YOUR help to make this showcase a huge success! The more tickets we
sell, the more we can raise to support our competition journey. Every ticket sold
brings us closer to covering essential costs like costumes and travel to
Southampton, so you won’t have to pay out of pocket like other societies this
year!
Who can you invite?
 Uni friends – Your course mates, society friends, or anyone looking for a
fun night out!
 Flatmates – Get your whole accommodation block involved!
 Family & friends from home – They can come along or even support from
afar by buying a ticket as a donation.
 Social media followers – Spread the word online and encourage your
network to grab a ticket.
How to Promote:
 Share our event on social media.
 Personally invite people—sometimes a direct message works better than a
post!
 Remind everyone that they’re supporting a great cause and an amazing
night of theatre!

Every ticket counts, and with your help, we can pack the audience and make this
show unforgettable.

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PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR COMPLETED

QUESTION AND ANSWERS WORKSHEET TO REHEARSAL
ON THE 1st FEBRUARY 2025
(This gives the committee a chance to read through everyone’s answers and find
any similarities between your experiences to assist with creating the unified
story on the day of rehearsal, if you get stuck!)