Meet A Cast Member

Five weeks to go!

Here’s what one of the cast members has to say about their acting experience, their character in Strictly Ballroom, and what they love about this particular production. They also share their advice for future students contemplating auditioning for a Girton Senior School Production. 

Tickets go on sale soon for shows at the Ulumbarra Theatre on the evenings of:

Wednesday 22nd June, Thursday 23rd June and Friday 24th June. 

Ronnell Masiboy (11 Jones)

Character: Abuela 

Since year 7 at Girton I have played the roles of the mischievous ‘Lost Kid’ Tootles in Peter Pan, an Ensemble-member in Matilda, the vivacious Baroness in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Banquo in Macbeth, which was unfortunately cancelled due to a virus ‘which will not be named’ and now this is my 5th production at Girton but my 8th production since Primary school. 

My character is Abuela (Grandma in Espanõl). My character is the caring yet charismatic Grandmother of Fran with a tendency to shamelessly say exactly what’s on her mind and of course her somewhat miraculous ability to perform high-intensity Spanish dancing at an old age. (Which leaves me, at 17 years of age, to question my own cardiovascular fitness after each rehearsal). Ultimately, I think of Abuela as the guiding voice in the lives of those who surround her. 

My character is obviously a little older than I am so I’ve had to really work on trying to find the balance between her more maternal and caring nature and the feistier side of her personality. However, the real challenge is the Spanish! At the start of the production, my Spanish vocabulary consisted of ‘Si’ and um … no that is it. Just ‘Si’. However, with practice comes improvement! Who knows, maybe come opening night I’ll be fluent?

I’ve really enjoyed the dancing in this production. There are so many unique choreography numbers that are so fun to learn and dance. I especially enjoy ‘Magnifico’ our closing number for act one and I cannot wait to perform it on stage with all the lighting! I truly hope it will be a highlight for our audience the way it has been a highlight for myself and our cast during rehearsals!

If you are someone contemplating joining a Girton production. Just go for it! Being part of production over the years has honestly been some of the best experiences I’ve had at school, through the initial excitement of auditions, the holiday rehearsals and the exhilaration of finally performing on stage. I have never regrated making the choice to audition ever and I’m sure you won’t regret it either.