Changeling prides itself on supporting young people to turn their dreams of a theatre career into reality, and Chris’s story is a perfect example. Read on to see how we helped Chris be the success he is today.
My name is Chris Thatcher, and simply put, Rob Forknall and the Changeling Theatre Company changed my life.
When I was in my early teens, I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted to do as a career or where I wanted my life to go. I grew up in Maidstone in Kent and attended a School that in truth, was failing their students. During these early teenage years, my mother and father had split up and my mother became seriously ill with multiple sclerosis. I struggled seriously with my mental health and lacked a direction in life.
I vividly remember the day when Rob visited our school for the first time to take some drama workshops. Not only did I find myself for partaking in a subject at my school that I really enjoyed, but more importantly, I found someone who believed in me.
After a few workshops, Rob noticed my interest in the Performing Arts and invited me to audition for one of his community plays. I had no experience in auditioning, and no idea what to expect. Needless to say I was given a small part in the play, not because I did a very good job in the audition, but because he could already see that I had a love for the work.
Suddenly I found myself amongst like-minded individuals. Young, and with a passion for life and a passion for expressing themselves within theatre. Each week I quickly found myself counting the days until the next rehearsal or performance, all under the safe guidance of this inspirational leader.
Within a few years I had performed in five plays and three pantomimes with the Changeling and along the way i also discovered that I had a singing voice. It was at this point where Rob took me to one side, to tell me that I should audition for Drama Schools. I was so inexperienced at the time that I didn’t even know what a drama school was! Rob introduced to me to the fact that Acting and Singing could actually be a career. My eyes were opened.
However, I quickly realised that to train at one of these schools on their three-year courses would cost over £20,000, something that my family certainly couldn’t afford. Rob encouraged me to not worry about the finances at this point and audition anyway. His belief and guidance at this moment was absolutely paramount. Had he not pushed for me to audition, regardless of the fact that I knew I couldn’t afford it, i never would have gone.
Whilst waiting to audition for drama schools Rob then offered me a small part in a professional Pantomime in which he was also performing, so i could gain experience in a professional production with other working actors. My first professional role, an experience i’ll never forget.
Rob then offered me free individual lessons with the Changeling to prepare for the auditions and after a short time I got accepted at Mountview Theatre School in London. I remember receiving the letter through the post, squealing with happiness, laying on my back and kicking my legs in the air in excitement!
Perhaps the most important part of my story was Rob’s help and advice when it came to finding the funding to go to Mountview. Rob’s first advice was to go to the library (there was no internet then!) to seek out any books which listed charities that regularly support students who want a career in the Performing Arts. He also suggested I write to anyone and everyone who i thought might be able to help. I then went on to write hundreds of letters to numerous charities and people in the public eye including the Queen & Princess Diana.
Over the course of many months I struggled to receive any substantial funding and apart from a few small and kind donations, notably from Matthew Kelly and Victoria Wood i began to believe that i wouldn’t be able to accept my place. I deferred a year and in truth, began to give up.
Rob continued to take a strong interest in how my fundraising was going and upon hearing that i was considering giving up, Rob gave me advice that directly changed the course of my life. Whilst driving to a rehearsal he stopped the car and banged on the steering wheel with his hands saying “THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, YOU MAY NEVER GET IT AGAIN, DON’T YOU DARE GIVE UP” Without a father figure in my life at the time, I look back with immense gratitude that Rob was there to give me the strong words that i needed to hear to help me keep pushing on.
After many more letters i eventually received a reply from Anne Widdecombe the local MP. After hearing my story she decided to complain to the Kent County Council, putting my story to their Arts Funding Program. Not only did the Council accept her complaint, they offered me a small grant which also activated a very large grant from the National Lottery Funding Programme. Some time after this and after even more letters, i received the final amount of funding from Anthony Hopkins and his own personal charity. I finally accepted my place at Mountview and trained for 3 Years.
After drama school, I got myself an agent and had a long and wonderful career in Musical Theatre, making my debut in the musical Grease, alternating the lead role in the original cast of Our House at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End, before doing other shows like Starlight Express, Witches of Eastwick and Avenue Q in the West End. I also began working within Puppetry and have Puppeteered with the Jim Henson company in the Muppets, The Dark Crystal on Netflix, and also Spitting Image for ITV. It was within one of those shows that I also met and eventually married my beautiful wife.
I often wonder where I’d be today if Rob hadn’t walked through the school doors that day. My life has been changed unreservedly for the better. Through Rob’s trust, teaching, guidance, willpower, knowledge, and above all, his belief in me, he and the Changeling gave me access to learn skills in a craft that otherwise was simply not accessible to me at that time.
My time at the Changeling was truly, the time of my life.
Chris Thatcher