Photos from GAOS shows: Twenty, High School Musical, and Aladdin
by Jo Beveridge, GAOS
Chairing the largest English-speaking musical theatre group in the Romandie, I am sometimes asked why do people get involved in musical theatre groups?
The most obvious reasons of course, is love of music or dance or acting and the sheer fun it!
On stage
But, for some, it is the first step on careers in the performing arts. This could be on the creative or performing side or the technical and production side. Where better to get pre-professional experience than in a good amateur theatre group? We have had young people start in our youth shows go on to study the technical side of theatre and work in production. For example, Owen Donkin spent many a Summer on stage with us then went onto to study Theatre Practice, Technical and Production Management at Central School of Speech and Drama then worked at Covent Garden Opera House, The Vaults and The National Theatre.
Others have stayed on the performing side and appeared on stage or made dance or music their profession. Sha Dessi appeared in many of our shows, starting with panto, then went to theatre school and went on to star in the West End as Eponine in Les Misérables in 2022. Gareth Donkin was 9 years old when he first took part in a GAOS Youth show and went on to appear in many shows and then gaining a degree in music production from the Leeds Conservatoire. His debut album was released last year.
Off stage
Other have become events managers (a skill very closely linked to stage management), opened dance schools, become drama teachers, or become choreographers.
But equally many find the experience is useful for other parts of their lives and careers. Some love the sense of community and enjoy the teamwork and the common striving towards a goal within a talented and committed group of people. Others find it can really help people develop self-confidence, communication skills, presentation skills and emotional intelligence.
Back stage
Others find a synergy and transferability between skills they use in their day-to-day job and the skills they use in the theatre. Take Nicki Power: Global Content Manager at Lenovo. She finds her professional skills translate to managing theatre productions. "My skills—attention to detail, organization, communication, and problem-solving—directly translate to ensuring actors, lighting, and sound cues run seamlessly during a show. It’s about juggling many moving parts efficiently, much like managing global content strategies at Lenovo."
Team-playing
Or Clàudia Baró Huelmo, Senior Associate and Delegate of the Barcelona Court of Arbitration. She studied law and performing arts at the same time and for her, the parallels are undeniable—both require creativity, adaptability, and strong public speaking skills. Performing on stage has trained Claudia to stay composed under pressure, think quickly, and master the subtle yet powerful techniques of tone, pacing, and the well-placed pause—all invaluable in front of a tribunal. She also believes the teamwork and collaboration skills within a theatrical production are valuable in her job. “Bringing a case to arbitration is a lot like putting on a show. Behind every performance is an entire team, whether it’s a production crew or legal experts, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Effective communication across different disciplines is key in both fields.”
Whatever people’s motivation, participation in musical theatre is truly rewarding and if you are considering it, I can wholeheartedly recommend it!
Author's bio
Jo Beveridge is the current Chairman of GAOS, Geneva’s English-speaking musical theatre group which has been entertaining audiences for over 50 years. With a diverse membership of more than 300 people from various backgrounds and nationalities, GAOS thrives on inclusivity and community spirit.
A dedicated member of GAOS since 1998, Jo, whilst never appearing on stage, has played many roles behind the scenes, applying her strong organisational and people-management skills to key positions, including Stage Manager.
Beyond the theatre world, Jo is a passionate advocate for netball. She co-founded Swiss Netball and established GGNA, a thriving youth netball club in Geneva. Whether in the arts or on the court, Jo has a talent for bringing out the best in people, encouraging them to “give it a go” and, most importantly, have fun whilst doing it.
Before coming to Geneva, Jo was a Job Centre manager in the UK Civil Service, working with The British Army, and their “Options for Change” initiative, advising and helping Officers look at their future options in the civilian world.
