Dance school announces special summer tribute show

Elwick Studios are preparing to hold a heartfelt summer show in memory of two loved ones.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Apr 2018, 11:34 BST
Updated 30th Apr 2018, 10:26 BST
Auntie Rhoda and Nana Marion.Auntie Rhoda and Nana Marion.
Auntie Rhoda and Nana Marion.

The dance school has announced that this year’s summer show, called This One’s For You Too, will be in tribute to ‘Auntie Rhoda’ and ‘Nana Marion’ - relatives of the schools business partners, Geoff Lucas and Leanne Jeffries.

The variety show will feature various musical theatre numbers from both past and present when it takes to the stage of the Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre on Friday, July 13, at 7pm and Saturday, July 14, at 2pm and 7pm.

Rhoda Compton, who has died aged 96.Rhoda Compton, who has died aged 96.
Rhoda Compton, who has died aged 96.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Geoff Lucas said: “In the last few months I very sadly lost my auntie who was like a second mum to me. She was 96.

“My business partner Leanne also lost her nana who was 97 and they were both life long friends who had always been there for each other.
“So we thought it would be nice to use the show as a tribute to the two of them, in memory of our loss

“So that is what it is all about.

“We did a tribute show to my mum Freda Compton three years ago and named it This One’s For You, so we thought the name This One’s For You Too, was a fitting tribute to Auntie Rhoda and Nana Marion.”

Rhoda Compton, who has died aged 96.Rhoda Compton, who has died aged 96.
Rhoda Compton, who has died aged 96.

Rhoda Compton was a school stalwart who had helped sister Freda Compton as she launched and ran the school and continued to help out following Freda’s death in 2010 at the age of 84.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Her nephew Geoff, who runs the school alongside Leanne Jeffries and a team of seven other teachers, helped care for Rhoda with his cousin Jan Compton.

She had thousands of adopted nieces and nephews and loved by so many people.

She had been in the University Hospital of North Tees for the last three weeks after a fall.

The school was founded in 1949 and is now based at Bathgate Terrace, where around 80 pupils aged from 18-months-old to 21 take dance classes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rhoda went to Brougham School and worked at Hartlepool Laundry before she spent around 25 years as orderly at Hartlepool General Hospital.

Geoff continued: “It will feature varied music theatre pieces both current musicals and looking back on older ones.

“It features all my current pupils as well as people coming back from London colleges and things to be in it.

“It is not just children it is adults as well.

“It should be a great evening out.”

Proceeds for the show will be going to Dementia UK.

Tickets for the show are £10 and £9 for a concession and are available to buy by calling: 01429 890000 or contact the school 275151.