This was a nice idea! Naturally Fast Food chain LEON opened one of its London restaurants on Shaftesbury Avenue and added a West End twist. LEON issued a casting call for the singing stars of tomorrow to work (and sing) at the brand new location, and offered to train them to start serving their customers (although not train them singing!)
Imagine that, a free show with your pre-theatre dinner!
Presenter and comedian Alexander Armstrong (BBC Pointless, Armstrong and Miller), actress Helen George (Call the Midwife, Strictly Come Dancing) and actress Anna Shaffer (Harry Potter, Hollyoaks) joined LEON co-founder John Vincent at two auditions to hear the hopeful recruits belt out their favourite tunes and win a spot on the team.
LEON co-founder John Vincent said: “This brand new LEON is in the heart of the West End, and we want to provide a stage for West End hopefuls. You’ll see the team members preparing and serving naturally fast food and then taking the mic to sing a show tune. We want to help our new stars to get noticed and follow their dreams. Perhaps our guests will be served by tomorrow’s Miss Adelaide or Jean Valjean”
We wished Good luck to everyone who auditioned, but forgot to do the same to Leon Restaurants which nosed dived after it was sold to EG Group – nothing to do with the quality of singing: more to do with the quality of the food!
Vincent has now bought the chain back for half of what he sold it for and is hoping to get the chain back to former glories.
I wonder if we will have more singing waitresses on Shaftesbury Avenue.