Everton striker Jermaine Beckford's younger sister stars in community play (From Harrow Times)

Everton striker Jermaine Beckford's younger sister stars in community play

4:40pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in

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World Cup hopes may have been consigned to the litter bin for another day but we’ll never give up on football. Such is our love of the beautiful game, Watford Palace Theatre and Watford Football Club have come together to present Hello, Mr Capello, a community production celebrating the ups and downs of life on the pitch.

The play centres on the life of a promising young player on the brink of signing for the club.

It has drawn together people from ages, 14 to 60, and from different backgrounds – what unites them all is their passion; be it for sport, drama, music or dance.

Among the talented young cast is Harrow resident Kelli Beckford whose family has quite an affinity with football. Kelli is the sister of Everton striker Jermaine Beckford, who started his career in the Chelsea youth and played for Wealdstone. Her brother Travis, meanwhile, won Wayne Rooney Street Striker.

Kelli, 15, moved to Harrow from Ealing five years ago. She attended Hathaway Primary, Kenmore Park First School and is now at Park High School.

She heard about Hello, Mr Capello through her schoolfriend Louise Lewinson.

“Louise does drama with me and she told me about the project so I decided to give it a go,” says Kelli. “Louise is playing an amazing character called Lynn, who is quite quiet but spoilt and cries a lot. She gets everything she wants and seems to win everything.

“My character can be quite moody at times. She doesn’t really like football all that much. She likes her boyfriend but she can cope without one. She likes the lifestyle, the travel and the parties, she’s up for all of it, but, of course, there are disasters that follow.”

Having a famous footballer in the family, I ask Kelli if she’s ever met any WAGs who were hard work?

“No, all the ones I’ve met were really nice, even the young ones.”

Kelli tells me she used to enjoy playing football and loves to go to games. Naturally, she supports her brother’s Premiership team but admits she “kind of likes Arsenal” but isn’t sure any more.

This is Kelli’s biggest role to date but she says she recently went on a tour of the Rhineland with her school demonstrating performing arts to German audiences.

“It was a mix of dance, music and drama and we played at festivals, theatres and in a market square.”

All in all, it’s been a busy summer for Kelli but she’s enjoying every minute.

In her spare time, Kelli also attends singing and acting classes at the Sharpe Academy in Harrow and will go on to join Footlights in Stanmore when she turns 16.

“I would love to go on to study musical theatre. I love everything to do with it. Everyone in the show’s been really welcoming. Some people I’ve talked to didn’t start off as actors but they’re giving it a go, which is great. We’ve all really enjoyed the experience.”

The show is at Watford Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road, Watford on Friday, September 3 and Saturday, September 4 at 7.45pm (Matinee Sat at 2.30pm). Details: 01923 225671