Talented students from The Long Eaton School took centre stage after producing every element of their own theatre production, raising nearly £2,000 for their arts department at the same time.
Many schools put on drama productions which allow students to cut their teeth on the stage, showcasing their singing and acting talents to a paying audience.
But talented pupils at The Long Eaton School on Thoresby Road went several steps further by writing their own show, as well as casting, directing, choregraphing and producing it all themselves, even building and painting their own set and doing all the sound and lighting too!
A cast of around 50 pupils performed their self-penned take on the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland to audiences over three days, raising £1900 for the school’s music, drama and art department.
Students from all year groups have been in rehearsing the show over two terms, under the direction of a production team from years 10 to 13 who have also taken charge of all writing and choreography.
Lizzie Dennis, head of arts and associate assistant principal at the 1200-pupil school and sixth form, said: “You don’t often get students coming forward and wanting to do everything when it comes to a production. You quite often have students wanting to help – but this production is 100 per cent student-led. I haven’t heard of any other school doing it.
“They’ve written the script, which has been through two or three versions! They’ve done all the backstage elements. Every single year group has been represented, and there have been no teachers in any of the rehearsals.”
The group of students responsible for putting on Alice in Wonderland at The Long Eaton School were Chloe Bannister, producer and choreographer; directors Daniel Price and Aamani Green; Lillie Bradbury-Price, who built the set; Ivy Collier, who made the costumes, Jack Clark, who was in charge of sound and lighting and Elisha Gaunt, who directed music and singing.
Chloe, 18, who is studying music and wants to go on to work in event management, said: “It has been very stressful but it’s also been really good fun. When the kids did their bows it made me cry! It’s strange being on the other side of a production as we have been.”
This is not the first time that students at The Long Eaton School have taken charge of their own production, with a similar show having been put on by a group of pupils in 2018.
But since that time the world was hit by Covid and Mrs Dennis said many students had been hampered in their confidence with performance as a result of all the weeks spent learning at home.
“It has been difficult for them when they have been at home and they have not had opportunities to perform a show – their confidence gets knocked,” she said.
“This has been very good for them. For one thing, students often don’t realise how much goes on behind the scenes with a production!
“The money that has been raised is fantastic. It will make a huge difference to the art, music and drama department at The Long Eaton School – many thanks to the group who have put on this fabulous show. It was brilliant to see!
“The staff are all so proud of the students. We really admire their hard work and determination in pulling this off.”