A busy Christmas period saw over 200 students involved in 15 performances both inside and outside school. The musical highlight was undoubtedly the annual Christmas concert at St Paul’s. Packed into the church were over 150 musicians, including 30 percussionists from local primary schools. As usual, an excellent time was had by all.
A session of “busking” outside Sainsbury’s, despite the arctic conditions, raised over £250 towards tour costs for school musicians.
Many thanks to all donors.
Tuesday 15th to Friday 19th march saw the Redhill production of “Grease”.Rehearsals went very well and the photos show performers getting in the mood to ensure an excellent performance that everyone could enjoy. The school also wishes to thank those companies who helped sponsor the production by placing adverts in the programme.
After many months of hard work and rehearsals the big day came and over 180 students and adults from our community appeared at the Royal Concert Hall in the production of ‘Steel’. This is the latest production form Science on Stage, and tells the story of an iron atom’s search for oxygen and their final union in the form of rust. Science on Stage consists of two local writers, both from the Arnold Hill School and Technology College, who have spent the last decade or so presenting some quite meaty scientific concepts in the form of music and dance. Dave Quick is the scientist and he creates the words whilst Jon Wakefield creates the music.
This is the most ambitious production so far and has a huge number of contributing groups including: Arnold Hill School and Technology College, ‘In Accord’ (Chamber Choir) , Flying High (Local school of Dance and Drama), Sandra Taylor School of dance, the Carlton Digby School (for students with severe learning difficulties). Also participating have been pupils form the following junior schools: Mapperly Plains, Arno Vale, Willow Far, Heathfield ,Ernhale Junior and Ernhale Infants School.
Plus the local rock band ‘Stiff Legged Derrick’
Steel was made possible by generous grants from the Arts council, Arnold Local Area Forum and Nottingham steel, a local company.
The day began with not a small amount of drama in the form of a heavy snow fall, which delayed the set up time in the concert hall by a couple of hours. Nevertheless sound and light teams battled against he clock and pupils familiarised themselves with the dressing rooms with great excitement and after a very hectic dress rehearsal went home for tea!
The show went like clockwork and the capacity audience responded enthusiastically to some stunning performances by the cast. After a couple of weeks rest the performers are rehearsing again in preparation for an even bigger day in London when the will perform at the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Four coaches will leave Arnold Hill School on April 10th and will have an amazing experience when they perform on one of the world’s most famous stages. There will be a few bleary eyes the following morning, which will soon disappear, but the memories will last a lifetime.
