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This year, Christmas came early for competitive roller skater-turned-drama teacher Dani Perrier. After many years, her wish of directing Elf the Musical in Jersey finally came true.
Express sat down with her to find out more...
After many years on the wheels, Dani explained said she came to dance and theatre “later than some children”.
“My coach encouraged me to take dance lessons and do some drama and acting to help with my performances,” she explained.
“I then studied drama and theatre at university and became a Drama Teacher. I worked In the UK and then I came back to Jersey to become Head of Drama at Grainville School and then I worked at Beaulieu for 12 years.”
Since taking on a different role within the Education Department 18 months ago, Dani has jumped whole heartedly in the local theatre scene to “keep the teaching element in her life”.
After Rapunzel and Fairytale Courtroom for the Jersey Amateur Dramatic Club, Elf will be Dani's third directing stint this year, in addition to acting in Evita, but she couldn't possibly turn it down. When directing, she likes to start with a show she is passionate about and has a vision for, which certainly applied to Elf.
“I have wanted to do Elf for as long as I was able to direct,” she said. “I tried when I was in Beaulieu but the show was in the middle of summer, so it was never going to happen! Normally you have to pitch the idea of a show, but the Green Room Theatre Company already had the rights. When they put out an appeal for a Director, I got several texts from people because everyone knew I wanted to do it!”
“I love Christmas so much!” she added. “I got married on 20 December and we had a Christmas theme and 14 Christmas trees! I love everything about Christmas, the family aspect, the values of spending time together and sharing something that is about happiness and joy."
"The show has it all – the Christmas trees and costumes, as well as the real meaning of Christmas, being with family and trusting in people," she continued.
Whilst audiences won't get to see the show until later this month, Dani has been working on it since the middle of August, with props such as Santas Grotto chair and giant baubles slowly taking over her home over the following months.
Pictured: Some of the cast in rehearsals.
“I feel like Christmas came very early this year,” Dani said. “It's been great fun – I loved every minute of it.”
After getting to grips with the script and putting together a creative team – Katie Daniel and Aimée Heard are choreographing and Claire Harvey is the Musical Director – Dani turned to casting.
“Elf is as much about acting as it is about singing and dancing, its all these things coming together,” she said.
“Buddy was the most important thing to get right. Everyone knows the Will Ferrell character. We needed to cast somebody who was talented enough to dance and sing, but would also be able to bring the Will Ferrell energy and comedy whilst still making it their own.
"Cameron is brilliant, he does it all in his own way and brings so much energy and the whole cast feeds on that!”
With a cast of 49 and a crew of six – getting up to 12 in addition to parent helpers during the run of the show – Dani has had her hands full during rehearsals. Luckily, she has been able to rely on the experience of her cast members.
“I have a good range of ages – the youngest will be seven by the run of the show and the oldest is in his 80s,” she said. “To see all these people in the same room doing something together and having a common goal is just lovely.
“The reason I love doing shows is because of the camaraderie you get with the cast, the crew and the production team. You make a little family. You see each other so often that you become incredibly close. Its a real team effort.”
“Some members of the cast have helped sourcing costumes and props, and they also come up with ideas,” she added.
“It's a safe environment to express yourself, be creative and have a bit of fun. The world is so serious – doing something that means you have a bit of fun is important.
“The more experienced people have been really supportive and encouraged the others. Jersey is really lucky, we have so many people of a really high standard, lots of which worked professionally and then came back to the island and joined amateur groups," she added.
Pictured: "It's a safe environment to express yourself, be creative and have a bit of fun."
"We are so lucky to have the standard of talent we do. They are all happy to be there, its a blessing that we have so many amazing talents involved!”
As the first performance approaches, Danis involvement starts to wind down, a process she describes as “bittersweet”.
“I love everything up to the run of the show,” she explained. “I love the dress rehearsal because you see it come to life on stage with costumes. I really dislike the run of the show, I find it really tricky at the point where it's almost over for me. It's all in the hands of the cast, its over to them and its their show and they will perform amazingly.
“It's bittersweet for me. It's almost done and it's a bit sad. Having to watch it and not being able to change anything, or not being able to help if anything goes wrong, is quite difficult!”
Passionate about theatre as she is, Dani is keen for it to be accessible to as many as possible. She therefore wanted Elf to offer a “relaxed performance”on Sunday 29 December at 15:00 to ensure all could join in the festive fun.
“It's for adults and children who have neurodivergent needs or additional needs,” she explained. “Families can find it difficult to come to the theatre and doing the relaxed show means that everyone can access theatre with the understanding of the audience and the cast member. Ticket costs will also be reduced to make it even more accessible.”
Pictured: The cast bringing the festive cheer while carol singing in the run up to the performances
This idea of togetherness links to Dani's favourite moment in the show: a scene where one of the characters is writing his letter to Santa and asks for a day with his dad.
“It's a beautiful song that reminds you about how special Christmas and family is, whatever yours might look like, and it's what I want people to realise,” Dani said.
Elf is a touching show that people will really enjoy. It's going to be really fun, comic, with some heart-touching and tear-jerking moments. It's a fun way for people to spend a moment of their Christmas season and it's a great family outing and way to extend your Christmas celebrations!”
Elf will take to the stage at the Royal Jersey Showground between Thursday 26 December and Sunday 5 January. Tickets for all dates can be purchased here.
This article first appeared in the December/January edition of Connect magazine which you can read in full below.
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