Barry Comprehensive School

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The Creative Arts Faculty have continued their tradition of producing top class productions this Christmas.

Year after year, pupils from every age range, wait in anticipation for the poster that tells them auditions will take place and when rehearsals begin.

The annual staff and pupil panto was put on hold this year for Barry Comprehensive’s very special version of the stunning musical “We Will Rock You”, written by Ben Elton, with music by Queen.

Tickets sold out, cast rehearsed, band set up and opening night commenced with a full audience. As the last bow was taken, you began to realise what made this a special version. It wasn’t just the superb, singing, dancing acting and music, it was watching eleven year old boys performing alongside seventeen year olds so confidently and enjoying every moment of being on stage.

There is no doubt that Barry Comprehensive has many talented young men with a great future ahead of them.

Stars of the show, there are too many to mention! However, special note must be made towards our lead characters Galileo and Scaramouche, played by Ryan Lloyd and Felicity-Jay Anderson, who both gave faultless performances and demonstrated a mature mastery over comic expression and timing during the three nights. Joining them were Britney Spears played by Jamie Jones, Kashoggi, played on different nights by Jason Ivins and Lewis Edwards and Meat, played on different nights by Daniel Saunders and James Sullivan. This was Daniel’s first ever full school production and you would never have known it!

Of course, not all the stars of the show were seen on the stage. All the music in the show was performed live by pupils Aaron Giltinan, Nathan Hedges, Julian Hobbs, Rhys Roberts who reproduced stunning versions of no less than 24 great Queen tracks.

To conclude, all the pupils were stars in our eyes and as Christmas draws near, the greatest present the school could receive was seeing over 800 people, frequently on their feet, singing along, enjoying and appreciating the hard work and sheer joy of a large scale performance by so many talented young singers, musicians and actors.

This certainly was a place full of magic where the champions performed.

Yet to come, so get your diaries out …

• Christmas Carol Service at All Saints Church, Wednesday 19th December
• “Lord of the Flies” in February 2008, a fantastic new adaptation of William Goldings novel, performed by the ‘A’ Level Theatre Studies students.

So much to come and see, so reserve your seats now.

Photos:

1. 'We Will Rock You'
2. Scaramouche played by Felicity-Jay Anderson
3. Galileo played by Ryan Lloyd
4. Lewis Edwards, Matthew Belby and Sam Lakin
5. Daniel Saunders and the ‘Killer Queen’
6. Ryan Lloyd 'I Want To Break Free'
7. James Sullivan and Jamie Jones
8. 'Radio GaGa'
9. Pop's Bar
10. Ryan Lloyd and Felicity-Jay Anderson singing 'Under Pressure'
11. The cast of 'We Will Rock You'

'We Will Rock You'

Scaramouche played by Felicity-Jay Anderson

Galileo played by Ryan Lloyd

Lewis Edwards, Matthew Belby and Sam Lakin

Daniel Saunders and the ‘Killer Queen’

Ryan Lloyd 'I Want To Break Free'

James Sullivan and Jamie Jones

'Radio GaGa'

Pop's Bar

Ryan Lloyd & Felicity-Jay Anderson singing 'Under Pressure

The cast of 'We Will Rock You'