Drama student Lauren Paine received a once in a lifetime Christmas present this year, when her parents bought her the opportunity to appear in hit show Jerusalem through charity auction West End Lots.
Paine spent her New Year’s Eve raving on stage with Mark Rylance, Mackenzie Crook and the rest of the Jerusalem cast in the show’s opening scene before joining her parents in the stalls to watch the rest of the performance.
Speaking about her cameo appearance, which was seen by an audience that included former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, Paine said: “It’s the best Christmas present I could have wished for. I still can’t quite believe I was on stage at Jerusalem raving away! The cast and crew were all very welcoming and friendly and helped to make the experience one that I’ll never forget.”
The incredible opportunity to appear in one of London’s most successful plays of recent years was just one of the exclusive theatrical items on offer at West End Lots, an online auction raising money for theatrical charity Stage One. Though that experience has passed theatre fans by, there is much more up for grabs including a VIP experience at Ghost The Musical, an astounding Olivier Awards package and tickets to the opening night and party of Singin’ In The Rain.
All the money raised by West End Lots goes to support the work of Stage One, which aims to assist and nurture new theatre producers through apprentice schemes, workshops, bursaries and mentoring.
Theatre lovers have the opportunity to bid on one of these exciting prizes until 24 February at the West End Lots website, where more lots are being added on a weekly basis.
MA