Around two years ago, a Pinoy dancer turned down a contract extension for the production of “The Lion King” in Hong Kong Disneyland. Julius Augustin Ebreo had already been working with the show for about two years and he wanted to come to the United Kingdom.Once he stepped off the plane and onto British soil, Julius knew it was going to be tough. Out of his comfort zone and no guarantee of a job, the scholar of Sofia Zobel-Elizalde’s “Steps Dance Studio” in Manila admitted that it was a bit of a challenge adapting to life in London at first.
Like many performers, the 29-year old from Pampanga auditioned for roles in shows and adverts while juggling work as a barman to make ends meet. Julius admitted he endured bouts of depression during those days, but now he feels things are looking up.
After working on the stage production of “Equus” in England, Julius recently landed a role as an ensemble performer for the UK tour of hit musical “We Will Rock You”. The show, which features the songs of popular British band “Queen”, will premiere in Manchester on March 21 before heading off to other locations including Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh.
As soon as the tour kicks off, Julius will be shaking his stuff up and down the country whilst belting out tracks like “We are the Champions” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” with the rest of the cast. The tour will run for a year until it finishes in March 2010.
He is excited at being part of the production and to be given the chance to work alongside renowned performers and industry professionals like celebrated choreographer Arlene Philips, who has a string of hit musicals under her belt.
The University of the Philippines graduate said “Equus” was more of a serious acting show and that it is a nice contrast for him now to be doing something as energetic as “We Will Rock You”.
When he was still back home in the Philippines, before his stint in Hong Kong, Julius performed on shows like ABS-CBN’s ASAP and Stardance as well as in several Regine Velasquez concerts. Even though he is now featuring in his first major musical theatre production, and people are looking at him differently, he insists he is not receiving any special treatment.
“In the Philippines they keep telling me you’re big time already, but I don’t feel like that”, he said whilst smiling.
“I’ve worked hard for it, but I’m still the same old Julius. I still have to audition every time a show finishes. It’s not like ‘oh somebody booked you for another show’.”
Julius is the only Filipino performer among the UK tour team and is following in the footsteps of Pinoy-Aussie singer Mig Ayesa, who was an original cast member of the show.
- by EDWARD LAO, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau