Fife theatre company celebrates teen star Helen Shapiro at Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The narrative of Helen Shapiro encapsulates a lot about the pop culture, where celebrity can come and go in an instant, but the memories last for decades.
She scored two number one singles at the age of 14, and before she reached sixteen, she was named the female singer of the UK. By the time she reached her late teens, the next generation of female vocalists had taken center stage.

Shapiro: A Pop Star Musical, the newest production by Kingdom Theatre Company at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, recounts those euphoric times.

It has been well received by patrons who have seen its five-night run at Greenside on George Street sold out. On Saturday, the show closes, and the company will then focus on its revival of Sinatra: The Musical.A group of five performers narrates her journey from school to the recording studio in the smallest possible performance space. Ann-Marie Miller plays the main role in the music, which consists primarily of her iconic songs intermingled with new ones.Theo Hart plays two roles: songwriter John Schroieder and a cameo as John Lennon, who wrote a song for Shapiro but had it rejected before she heard it. Stuart McLean produces her music at Abbey Road. Lily Martin and Amelie Christi are incredibly enthusiastic in their roles as schoolfriends and backing vocalists.

The program follows Shapiro’s life story in chronological order and completes the cycle with a video montage of her life after becoming famous. The image of Shapiro with the cast includes members who weren’t even alive when she debuted on the charts. Certain musical recollections don’t fade.