The Other Palace is the venue to go to see all things musical theatre, not just in the main house but also in the intimate studio space and tonight there is an opportunity to see the very talented IDA in their stunning stage and screen show.
These beautiful young singers have quickly established themselves as a leading classical crossover group with a programme that cleverly marries timeless musical theatre numbers, iconic operatic arias and cinematic favourites, complete with exquisite harmonies. It promises to be a memorable evening and the chance to see four girls heading for the very top.
But who are Ida?
In 2015 the Finborough Theatre presented a sell-out new version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Princess Ida. In the cast were four young ladies who quickly became firm friends.
Australian Soprano Laura Coutts was keen to ensure the friendship continued and suggested the girls formed a group to create work for themselves. Appropriately they called themselves Ida.
All four girls trained professionally as opera singers, but also had a deep passion for musical theatre and they were keen to create a fusion of these two genres mixed with a little bit of pop.
Coutts, who was classically trained at the renowned Queensland Conservatoire, came to London – which she considers the international hub of musical theatre – to study at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
For her it was a life-changing decision, following a personal tragedy. A talented performer, she wanted to take control of her life and make the most of every opportunity. Starting Ida and working with three close friends was the perfect way of sharing a unique style with a wide audience.
Christmas 2015, Ida made their first professional appearance on the BBC Andrew Neil show. They secured an agent and during 2016 earned 30 contracts to travel the world appearing on luxury cruise ships. They proved a big hit with audiences and contracts continued to flood in.
The very glamorous girls – Laura Coutts, Georgi Mottram, Wendy Carr and Sarah Vaughan – are completely hands on in running the group and they do their own stunning arrangements, including beautiful four-part harmonies, which have proved a big hit.
They have also created programmes of varying lengths so can make a relatively short guest appearance or offer a full evening of entertainment – and anything in-between.
Mottram explains: “We all trained in opera but all of us love musical theatre too and were keen to work in both areas, but our voices just didn’t quite fit. So by creating our own show with unique arrangements of musical theatre classics, opera arias and a few pop songs, we feel we have finally found our niche in the industry.”
This year has proved to be another busy year for Ida – more cruises, their own show at Live at Zédel, West End Live and then off to Australia to headline at the Noosa music festival.
“We are just so excited about the future” says Mottram. “We are thrilled to be appearing at The Other Palace and we would really love to make more London appearances and tour around the UK, reaching out to a wider audience. We get such positive feedback and we are all loving every minute of this wonderful journey.”
Yvonne I’Anson
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