7:20am Thursday 25th April 2013
SINGING sensation Leona Lewis has become the first star to rehearse in Purfleet.
The global superstar spent three days at the Backstage Centre, at the High House Production Park, to prepare for her latest tour.
TV presenter Jools Holland opened the £13.7million state-of-the-art facility last month.
It is set to play host to some of the world’s biggest stars in music and theatre as they rehearse for live shows.
Leona and her team were at the facility to put the finishing touches to her Glassheart tour. The tour opened in Berlin last week and is in the UK this week.
She became a household name after winning the third series of the X Factor in 2006. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide.
Gary Sparkes, technical consultant at the Backstage Centre, said: “It’s been great to have Leona and her team working here.
"It’s always been our goal to accommodate world-famous acts as they prepare for large scale productions.
“The centre has only been in operation since late 2012 and already we are building a reputation as one of the premier venues for rehearsal and training in the UK.
“This is testament to the capabilities we have at the Backstage Centre and it also bodes well for our wider aims.
“Our ability to attract acts like Leona Lewis is central to our vision of the centre as a place where young people aspiring to enter the industry train in the same space as world-class professionals.”
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