Chapter 1

 Marcus Desuza had just finished his final year at Miller’s Music Academy, one of the best music schools in the country. He had passed his final exam with a distinction and had huge aspirations to one day be a famous singer. He recalled how his singing tutor had once told him that he had a voice that could make angels cry and how he was destined to achieve great things, musically of course.

The Old Oak theatre in Manchester was one of the most prestigious in the country. It was only small as theatres go and could only seat about 150 people, but it had been standing proud for 200 years and only the best of the best were ever asked to perform there. The theatre was planning a night of music for a select few and had contacted Miller’s Academy to offer them the first ten minute slot on opening night to promote “stars of the future” so it was no surprise when the academy asked Marcus if he would perform on their behalf and without thinking he accepted.

Now, although Marcus had the most amazingly beautiful voice that you have ever heard he also suffered from the most terrible stage fright ever. Whenever he had been asked to sing for the school in the past he had just froze on the stage, like he had been turned to solid stone, unable to sing a note. What was he going to do? He had no choice he was going to have to beat his fear, this was too big an opportunity to pass up, this could be his big break, his road to stardom.

Chapter 2

Three months later and opening night at The Old Oak theatre had arrived. It had for sure crept up on Marcus like a lioness stalking her prey. He had spent the last twelve weeks singing, almost non-stop, to various sized audiences in order to beat his crippling stage fright and he was almost certain he had managed to subdue the savage beast within. His doting Mother had collected his best suit from the dry cleaners and had polished his shoes to within an inch of their lives. He planned to arrive at the theatre ridiculously early so he would have plenty of time to prepare himself in voice and in mind for the evening ahead. Even now just thinking of what was to come Marcus could feel a fluttering sensation in his guts like he had swallowed a butterfly or two.

For the theatre this was going to be the highlight of their year, they had some very powerful and influential people of the music industry attending, not just music producers but the music press too and they had the power to make or break an artist with just one sentence. Also the artists they had performing that evening were well established globally known singers, it was without doubt going to be an evening people would remember for a long time to come.

Marcus had arrived at the theatre unspeakably early as planned. That early in fact that nobody was even there. Norman the theatre’s caretaker was unlocking the door as he arrived and he practically lived there. He looked to be about as old as the theatre itself with a wrinkled walnut like face and a mass of pure white unruly hair that stuck out in every direction.

“What are you doing here so early lad?” Norman asked with a deep hoarse voice.

“I’m singing tonight,” replied Marcus, “I’m the first on and wanted to get some last minute practise in.”

“You’re keen, I’ll give you that,” said Norman quietly chuckling to himself as he opened the enormous heavy theatre doors.

This however did nothing for Marcus’s self confidence which had suddenly taken a massive nose dive. The butterflies in his guts now felt like his guts had been ripped out and thrown into the washing machine on a full spin cycle. Then the thoughts entered his head, he began to picture all the possible ways that this could go wrong. Would he freeze like a statue, or maybe he would forget the words or even sing out of tune. He just knew he was going to make a fool of himself in front of all those important people and then he could kiss goodbye to any chance of a singing career that he may have had. Was he even good enough anyway to make it as a singer, at that precise moment Marcus had very serious doubts indeed, he was even doubting his own abilities despite being told countless times that he had the most amazing singing voice. This was serious, he would have to pull himself together before the evening if he had even the slightest hope of singing on that stage.

Chapter 3

Norman, the caretaker of the theatre had noticed that something was bothering Marcus and as the theatre began to fill up with VIPs he seemed to be getting worse. He hadn’t moved off that chair in the corner for about an hour now and was just staring blankly at the wooden floorboards that were that old it was as though they groaned with every step taken upon them.

“You O.K lad?” asked Norman. Marcus briefly lifted his head, acknowledging Norman and then went back to staring at the tired floorboards.

“I can’t do it Norman,” said Marcus in a rather defeated voice, “I’m just not good enough to be a singer.”

“Fancy a bit of Dutch courage lad?” asked Norman pulling a silver coloured hip flask from his back pocket and waving it at Marcus who politely took a sip and handed it back.

“Let me tell you something lad,” said Norman, “I’ve seen some of the most famous and well known singers perform in this tiny theatre.”

Marcus wasn’t sure where Norman’s story was going but he needed to find the manager and tell him that he couldn’t sing this evening. This was the end, his dream had died and Marcus was completely heartbroken.

“Almost fifty years I’ve worked here and all of them were just like you,” said Norman, “all afraid every one of them, even the ones that make a million just for waking up in the morning.”

Marcus sat bolt upright in his chair, not sure if he believed what he was hearing.

“What all of them?” he asked Norman, looking at him, hoping for some small glimmer of hope in the pitch black darkness.

“Every single one.” replied Norman, “it’s only natural to feel nervous before a performance.”

This revelation had instantly made Marcus feel a thousand times better especially as he was now able to picture global megastars with stage fright. His confidence had returned and he now felt as though he could actually do this. In the front of the theatre he could hear the mono-tonal buzz of the crowd like a swarm of bees and Marcus knew that his time was swiftly approaching it was now or never.

The lights went out and the curtain rose and from somewhere at the back a voice came over the microphone.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for attending this evening. Now may I introduce to you all the magnificent Marcus Desuzer.” The theatre erupted in applause and out stepped Marcus onto the stage.

He gave it everything he had, put his heart and soul into it and it was indeed the performance of his life. Afterwards the whole entire theatre were astounded by his talent and every single person rose to their feet in admiration and from the front row a man in a very expensive suit handed him a card which had scrawled across the back call me first thing in the morning. When he turned the card over on the front was the unmistakeable company logo of one of the biggest music producers on the planet. This was indeed the start of the rest of his life and if it hadn’t been for Norman he would have never made it out on the stage and would have missed this chance he had been given.