A Proud Mum

Liz Robertson

As I sat listening to the opening music of the very successful London West End musical 'Mamma Mia' my mind was racing back through time. I was remembering my daughter's first words, steps and singing her favourite nursery song 'Twinkle, twinkle little star' at playgroup.

After having seen me perform as Hortense, a French maid, in a local production of the 'Boyfriend' Hannah was hooked at the age of just 3 years old. She knew from that day what she wanted to do with her life and became focused on her ambition. I have always been interested in singing and would have loved to be trained for a life on the stage but it wasn't to be. I explained this from time to time to Hannah and said that I didn't want to live my life through her but I would support her all I could and find answers to questions which I had been too apprehensive to ask.

Hannah progressed through her schooling taking part in a variety of productions and competitions. She left the family home, near Inverness, when she was 16 years to further her ambition by completing her last two years of schooling in Glasgow at the Musical Theatre Course, based in Knightwood Academy. Hannah then completed a degree course in Performing Arts at the Bristol Old Vic Conservatoire.

Now here I was, sitting waiting for the curtain to go up, butterflies in my tummy and tears streaming down my cheeks, waiting to watch my wee girl achieve her lifelong ambition, at 22. Unfortunately, I was so overcome with emotion that I could hardly watch the performance for crying! However I was lucky to watch it several times later, and felt so proud every time. I also wanted to stand up and tell everyone that 'Sophie' was actually my daughter and not Donna's, and I know exactly who her Dad is!