Schoolgirl’s starring role in art show

Mar 31 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A BIRKBY schoolgirl is the star attraction at an exhibition in Amsterdam.

Candice Bedford, 15, was chosen to feature in an exhibition at the MA Rjecs Academy, Amsterdam.

The Huddersfield Grammar pupil will be using her acting skills to draw visitors to her and then performing, reading or talking to them.

Her proud mum Yelena Bedford said: “Candice has always been interested in drama, ever since she was a young girl.

“She went for this audition and she didn’t know what they wanted.

“But they offered her a part and she has worked so hard preparing for it.

“She has had to learn so many books, poems and parts of well-known novels because she will have to use them as part of her work.”

The exhibition is remarkable in that people are the main attraction.

Candice will be the part of a literator or art work and known to visitors as the Lemon Emigrant.

She has knowledge only of the text she has learnt and will work independently of the other artists. The 15-year-old has been learning lines of poetry, books and novels, including parts of the Bible and Shakespeare plays which she can chose to read to the visitors.

But she can also use her own imagination to capture people’s attention.

Visitors in turn can ask her questions and she will base her answers on the text or say what she truthfully thinks.

Mrs Bedford added: “I don’t think anything like this has ever been done before.

“It is very unusual but a great experience for her.

“She has already learnt so much rehearsing for it.”

Candice is a member of a drama school in Wetherby and has taken part in many pantomimes, plays and dramas over the last four years.

She is set to appear in a short film in April and hopes to continue acting as she completes her GCSEs at Huddersfield Grammar School.