Composer visiting Greenock today

Russell Steele • Published 16 Feb 2012 09:00 4 Comments

WORLD-FAMOUS composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is in Greenock today for the topping out ceremony at the new £10m Beacon Arts Centre.

Lord Webber's charitable organisation, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, backed the project with a grant of £100,000 last July.

The cash will be used to fund a youth theatre initiative when the new facility opens this summer.

As a keen supporter of the new development, which will replace Greenock Arts Guild, Lord Lloyd-Webber will be at the Custom House this morning to mark a major milestone in its construction.

Elliott McKelvie, chairman of Greenock Arts Guild, said: "The topping out of The Beacon marks a hugely important step in a project which has taken eight years to develop.

"We are now at the final stages of fulfilling our vision for a vibrant, inclusive focal point for arts activities in Inverclyde and beyond."

Madeleine Lloyd Webber, trustee of The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, said: "The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation is passionate about young people and giving opportunities to them within the arts.

"The Youth Theatre project at the Beacon Arts Centre aims to provide the young people in this area an outlet for self expression and to encourage life skills using theatre practices.

"Through our donation, we hope to make a positive difference in Inverclyde that will be felt for generations to come."

The engagement is one of two Lord Lloyd Webber will fulfil in Greenock.

He will be heading straight to the Arts Guild after it to conduct private auditions for his new ITV show 'Superstar', which searches for a talent 'beyond all imagination'.

Lord Lloyd Webber will run the rule over a small, selected number of young people from the Inverclyde and west of Scotland area during the auditions.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 16 Feb 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  SAR819
  118 posts
  Feb 16, 11:12
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  How wonderful to enspire musical talents to the youths of inverclyde.
  
  Maybe one day this will bring a budding bloom to the music industry.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 8     No 0

• 

  RABCARSWELL
  74 posts
  Feb 16, 11:40
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  Watch out for the political chancers trying to get in in the act,if you'll excuse the pun.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 4     No 4

• 

  robertsteele
  2 posts
  Feb 16, 11:43
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  Good news for the town. Wonder if Oilivia been invited to appear at the Arts Guild for Lord ALW
  
  Recommend?   Yes 4     No 0

• 

  greenway13
  1 post
  Feb 17, 11:23
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  Good to see a fine Scottish patron of the arts being invited to the topping out ceremony.
  
  With Prince Edward and now Lord lloyd-Webber I trust the other giant of Scottish creativity Lord Geoffrey Archer will be invited next.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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