Kate Lloyd has been playing the piano from the age of seven. Now, ten years later, she has composed her own musical, Bytes.

Bytes will shortly be performed by schoolmates from St Bernard's High School, Southend at the New Empire Theatre.

The words and plot of the show are the brainchild of drama master Paul Clark who gave the basic script to talented Kate of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay when she had finished her 11 GCSEs.

"He asked me if I could put tunes to the lyrics," said Kate. "The play expanded, the ideas grew. I finished up writing about 21 numbers."

Kate, who is studying for her grade eight playing exams with teacher Honor Jackson, worked out all the tunes in her head for piano. "I'm not very good at transcribing," she said. "I made a few notes and jotted down chord progressions, but that was about it."

The musical will be accompanied by a small orchestra. Kate will play piano and be joined by others playing two flutes, two clarinets, acoustic and bass guitars and a drum kit.

"I played the music onto tapes and John Puddick scored it for us," she explained. Coincidentally John Puddick teaches at Thorpe Hall School and is form tutor to Kate's younger brother James, 14.

Kate is currently studying for four A-levels in human biology, English literature, RE and, of course, music.

"I don't know what I want to study at university yet - or at which one. I'll wait and see how the A-levels go and decide from there," said Kate. "I want to be a teacher - probably a primary teacher, but again it will depend on how things work out.

"I connect with children. I have loads of cousins including three young ones. There's Jake, 11, Chloe 9 - who I have seen grow - and baby Stella who is 13 months."

Outside school, Kate is tied up with her music - piano lessons are taken outside school time - learning to drive and working part-time in WH Smith.

Tickets for Bytes at £4 for adults and £2 for concessions are available from Mrs Daisy Ashford at St Bernard's High School on 01702 343583.

Bytes will be performed upstairs at the New Empire Theatre, Alexander Street, Southend, from March 1 to 3.

Talent - Kate Lloyd composed the music for the lyrics from a basic script given to her by Paul Clark, her drama master at St Bernard's High School.

Picture: STEVEO'CONNELL

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