Who Is Annabelle?
Hello! Annabelle here! I am an aspiring performer and freelance human being.
I am currently a student for a Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Performing Arts at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (EXCEL).
Theatre Credits:
(2019) Hong Kong International Airport Christmas Carol
(2019) Sleeping Beauty The Panto - Dance Captain (Hong Kong Players)
(2019) Titanic The Musical - Ensemble (Face Productions)
(2019) Chasing Stars The Musical - Ensemble (Xtramental
(2019) Shot In The Back - It Was All Just An Act - Doris King
(2019) Once On This Island Jr. - Papa Ge
(2018) Weird Pool Party - Mabel Lam
(2018) Adrift In Macao - Daisy The Cigarette Girl
(2017) My Fair Lady - Ensemble
Being A Late Bloomer, How I Started
Later Than The Standard
You might notice that my theatre credits are short, and very recent. Well, I have an interesting story to tell. When I was younger, I wasn't really trained in the arts. Before I was 8, I would be the spectator of entertainment, and never really felt right on the stage. It wasn't until I was 9 when I joined my school's dance team, and I fell in love with dance, when I left primary school, my mom took me to a trial jazz dance class at a studio, and the rest was history.
Once a week, became twice a week, and slowly, I took classes almost every day. And I took up different styles and different studios. I fell in love with the spotlights, the curtain and stage. But I still felt like something was missing. I'm not really good at Ballet, but that was where I tried my hardest. So I had an insecurity when I'm on stage at the time. And I never really thought of performing as a career path.
Until 2016, I decided to do my first audition ever for a dance program, and honestly, I just went because of peer pressure. I felt like I wasn't ready for the professional world.
But then I got a callback, and then for some reason, I was able to tumble into HKAPA's Gifted Young Dancer Programme from 2016-2017. And that was the start of my performance career.
Adding Song And Speech?
The beginning of my musical theatre/drama journey started in around 2016. My dance school did an original musical production, and I was part of the creative process. And in the same summer, I went to London with my dance school for a Royal Academy of Dancing Intensive Program. They included a musical theatre class, and we did a number from Wicked and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I fell in love with the dance style. And through some miracle, I was able to watch Matilda The Musical in the West End on the last day of my trip. And in that moment, I remember telling myself, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
And from there, I did my first musical audition in 2017, and was so fortunate to get an ensemble role for Face Productions' My Fair Lady. And the theatre bug bite kept getting infected and it couldn't be healed anymore.
In 2018, I decided to stop almost all my training to focus on my HKDSE, hoping that if I studied hard enough, I would pass. But I was one mark away from getting into university.
Even though I wasn't able to get into uni immediately, I made a big choice to get off school and take a GAP year.
GAP Yeah!
First things first for a year of from school for me. I got a job, to give me a sense of stability that I am contributing to society and getting a bit of financial support. Then, I began vocal lessons and acting lessons. And in between, I kept auditioning and performing.
Within a year, I was able to perform 6 separate runs of separate productions, and all with different styles. I did three English musicals, one Cantonese musical, one multilingual play with musical elements, and a straight play. Adding onto the pile was teaching ballet (still not very good at it, only because I completed the exam), multiple auditions, rehearsals, and dance classes as well. I also made a few college applications and auditions, but I knew I wasn't ready.
What Am I Up To Now?
Now I am back in school, doing a certificate for performing arts. and I have gained a lot more insight on the production of a musical and shows. And marketing as well.
So now, not only am I an aspiring performer, but I'd like to learn more about play writing, directing, choreographing, stage managing, marketing, and of course, blogging.
Which brings us to this website! The name is still a work in progress, it is ever changing, but my name is not going anywhere. (Mainly because I bought my domain name for a year and I can't go back...)
My goal for this website, theatre-wise is to not only inform, but to openly discuss, and also sharing a new perspective on it.