Soham-based Viva Theatre Company is marking the anniversary of the start of the first lockdown by releasing a cover of ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman to raise money for its new theatre. 

Viva-Theatre-Company-musically-marks-a-year-since-lockdown

Members of all ages filmed themselves at home singing and dancing and, using online technology, they have been brought together in an emotional performance.

Promising ‘we will come back home…’, the video has been viewed more than 1,000 times since it was premiered on YouTube on Monday (March 22).

The original backing track was performed by professional musicians who all gave their time to the project for free.

Ely Standard: Soham-based Viva Theatre Company has marked a year since the first lockdown by releasing a video cover of ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman.Soham-based Viva Theatre Company has marked a year since the first lockdown by releasing a video cover of ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman. (Image: VIVA SOHAM)

Viva! founder Dan Schumann said: "We have all missed live theatre over the last year, and we have all missed our Viva family.

“So we wanted a project that would give us a focus, a chance to perform and that feeling of creating something really magical.

“This project has delivered that in spades! We are hoping that it will be shared far and wide and that viewers will be moved to support our new theatre through online donations.”

Ely Standard: In 2019, Viva was awarded a £608,200 grant for their Spencer Mill Poject, which will bring Soham’s only remaining mill back to life. This is what the derelict mill could look like in the near futureIn 2019, Viva was awarded a £608,200 grant for their Spencer Mill Poject, which will bring Soham’s only remaining mill back to life. This is what the derelict mill could look like in the near future (Image: VIVA SOHAM)

Alison O’Connor, of Viva Arts and Community Group, said: "Obviously our aim is to spread this positive message far and wide, and raise as much money as possible through donations to the Viva Theatre fund."

Viva Arts and Community Group is converting the old mill on Spencer’s Drove in Soham into a community arts and theatre centre.

Ely Standard: Soham-based Viva Theatre Company has marked a year since the first lockdown by releasing a video cover of ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman.Soham-based Viva Theatre Company has marked a year since the first lockdown by releasing a video cover of ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman. (Image: VIVA SOHAM)

Work has continued on the site throughout the pandemic, but the lockdowns and social distancing rules have delayed the project and costs have increased considerably.

Dan added: “Donations from the Greatest Showman video will go to the renovation fund to enable the project to be completed in time for lockdown to be finally lifted, hopefully in the summer.

"Then we can finally ‘come back home’.”

Ely Standard: In 2019, Viva was awarded a £608,200 grant for their Spencer Mill Poject, which will bring Soham's only remaining mill back to life. This is what the derelict mill currently looks like.In 2019, Viva was awarded a £608,200 grant for their Spencer Mill Poject, which will bring Soham's only remaining mill back to life. This is what the derelict mill currently looks like. (Image: VIVA SOHAM)

The group’s next project will be a virtual radio play of Frankenstein, all filmed remotely.

Spencer’s Mill is being transformed into the Viva Theatre using funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Power to Change, The Arts Council, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and Amey Vespa.

Visit http://www.viva-group.org.uk/ for more information.