ArtView September 2015 | Page 12

Les Miserables happiness as the audience jumped to a standing ovation. Happy days. Whenever I can, I take our daughter to see musical theatre. Local, professional and not so professional. It’s all beautiful. Every performance provides us with yet another magical experience together and it’s an indescribable feeling looking at the expression on my daughter’s face as the characters invite us into their land. I can only hope she too will one day look back and reflect on how music and musical theatre helped mold her life. Recently I was lucky enough to sit in the audience for the premiere of the new Les Miserables production in Melbourne. As the overture began, I was overcome with emotion and I began to cry. Part of this was due to the pure joy this particular musical provides me, it’s one of my favourites, but as I struggled to compose myself, it struck me just how powerfully theatre, particularly musical theatre, has affected my life. It has been one of my life’s greatest gifts and provided me with so much happiness, escapism, inspiration, creativity and most importantly, a sense of belonging. It makes me feel like I’m home. I hope to return to the stage very soon. The desire to sing and tread the boards never leaves me. In the meantime, I’ll keep taking my little girl to as many musicals as I can. Even the ones that are deemed inappropriate for her age, because sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty ... (thanks Matilda!) @GorgiCoghlan