Phoenix Players' newcomers Imogen and Matthew step up to play contestants in The Great British Bake-Off Musical at Harrogate Theatre
The two youngest contestants in the Harrogate Phoenix Players’ production of The Great British Bake-Off Musical are Izzy and Hassan played by company newcomers Imogen Ostler and Matthew Darwin. Although the characters are similar in age, they could not be more different!
Izzy, and undergraduate at Cambridge University, comes from a privileged background.
Brimming with confidence and full of lofty ambitions, for Izzy failure is not an option.
Her baking style relies on unusual utensils and strange ingredients sourced from skiing holidays and exotic retreats but are these enough?
Will Izzy have to find other tactics to win the coveted prize?
Imogen studied at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. She has a wealth of experience in shows and festivals and has taught musical theatre and drama at Camp America in Pennsylvania.
Like Izzy, Imogen is ambitious and is using her baking skills working in a café to fund a trip to Australia after which she hopes to study drama full time.
The rest of the Bake-Off cast are happy to report that Imogen is nothing like the spoilt Izzy and love having her in the show.
In stark contrast, sixth form student, Hassan, came to England as a refugee with nothing. His baking helps him to find acceptance with his peers.
He pins his hopes on winning on his lucky T-shirt and his uniquely intuitive and creative style. ‘I just throw it in a bowl’, he says proudly.
Matthew has been away from the stage for 10 years and decided to get back into acting when he heard about the Bake-Off auditions from a university friend.
He came along with no part in mind andthe audition panel spotted his potential to play the charismatic, rapping Hassan and are delighted that he joined the cast.
Despite their differences, Izzy and Hassan both bring youth, energy and humour to the Bake-Off tent.
The Great British Bake-Off Musical is on at Harrogate Theatre from Wednesday March 18 until Saturday March 21, daily at 7.30pm plus a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Tickets on 01423 502116 and https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/
The Harrogate Phoenix Players are delighted to be sponsored by Mama Doreen’s Emporium and are proud to support Martin House Hospice.