Puting the Carols into a Christmas Carol!

A small, hand-picked group of our singers joined the Dolman Youth Theatre (Dec 8th - 11th) in their performance of the Charles Dickens' classic 'A Christmas Carol'. The group helped to set the atmosphere before each performance by singing a selection of traditional carols in the foyer and then took part in the play itself. The small vocal ensemble showed a thoroughly professional spirit as flu and laryngitis took its toll reducing a potential of 12 singers down to 6 on the Friday night! In true theatrical tradition however, the show went on with the help of cough sweets and hot chocolate! Well done to all!

Brewing Up a Storm

On 18th October the students of the Post 16 Collaboration in Performing Arts joined two other schools down the Riverfront Theatre for the National Schools Shakespeare Festival. Our group had the task of opening the evening with a stunning 35-minute version of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

It was a real challenge for the group to take the script from page to stage in just 5 weeks! Little did the students realise ho intense their first few weeks together would be when they enrolled for the BTEC Diploma in Performing Arts in September. But what a fantastic way to create a team from the five collaboration institutions! The learners started their own Facebook page and shared support and encouragement. This was most needed when our leading lady, Erin Chapman, suffered an injury to her ankle with less than one week to go before the show which meant that she performed dress and technical rehearsals on crutches.

The phrase 'it'll be alright on the night' was a complete understatement for this very talented company of players. They were FANTASTIC and I'm very proud of each and every one of them!

Well done all!

Mrs McAinsh