King Charles was offered tap dancing lessons today, after he revealed he owns a pair of tap shoes during an engagement. The King joined Sir Idris Elba as they both met musical theatre students during a celebration for young people in the industry in central London.
Charles met National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) performers and students from Birmingham CORE Education schools to mark NYMT’s 50th anniversary in Victoria. Bill, a member of NYMT, said the King told him he has tap shoes.
He said the King asked him, “Do you learn to tap dance?”, adding: “He said he owns his own tap shoes and we offered to teach him.”
When asked whether they had a lesson booked, the 21-year-old said: “We failed, but we will follow up.”
The King also told the musical theatre students that the best way to understand Shakespeare is to “actually act it”.
In The Other Palace studio, the King and Sir Idris met students who were taking part in drama and musical theatre workshops, and they also watched a performance by a choir made up of some of NYMT’s young performers in the theatre’s main auditorium.
Toby, 22, said he taught the King a “warm-down technique” in which you blow through a straw to soothe your vocal cords.
When Sir Idris was 18, he used a grant from The Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust) to attend NYMT, a charity which offers music theatre opportunities and experiences to young people.
The actor, known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, told students that his school drama teacher got him into NYMT.
Before taking his seat for a performance, which was marked with a velvet “CR” cushion, the King cut a “50” cake and joined in a group photo with the young performers and students.
Charles also met staff and supporters of NYMT to hear about their work in reaching the half-century.
Before the King left, he shook hands with members of the public gathered on the street outside the studio as they waved and cheered.
As well as Sir Idris, the organisation’s alumni include Jude Law, Stephen Graham, Toby Jones, Amara Okereke and Callum Scott Howells.