Let’s Hear It for the Boys and Girls!

If you’re holding out for a hero, there was a theatre full of them last week with our Senior Production of Footloose: The Musical. 

For three fun-filled evenings, the exceptional cast wowed audiences with their dynamic and enthusiastic singing, dancing, and acting. For the first time, Removes (Years 9 and 10) were also eligible to audition for the show, which meant that the wealth of talent on display was even greater, and the ensemble cast that emerged were of a particularly high calibre.  

Elijah B as Ren and Rosie B as Ariel led the line superbly, and their Act Two duet, Almost Paradise was a real showstopper moment. The supporting cast were equally impressive: heartbreakingly mature performances from Hannah B and Eric D as Ariel’s parents, and a powerhouse turn from Bella C as Ariel’s best friend, Rusty captivated the audience each evening of the run.  

Those new Removes recruits also more than held their own, with Tigo M excelling in the comic supporting lead role of Willard, and James C’s incredible vocal talents bringing bad boy Chuck to life.  

The band were absolutely fantastic, providing all the music for the show. This was made up of a mix of talented pupils and Music Department staff and they brought so much energy to the show. Playing this style of music backstage and wearing headphones is one of the most demanding of challenges for a musician. In his second show at school, Jack B was the drummer and excelled in that role; Eleanor W on bass and Alex W on sax were playing in their first school show and their professionalism throughout the week was truly remarkable. 

The show would also not be a success without the incredible work behind the scenes of our awesome tech crew. They ran the whole show and did a great job to ensure everything ran smoothly. 

The talent, commitment, and professionalism of everyone on stage and behind the scenes was remarkable. It was a production full of energy and enthusiasm, with moments of poignant emotion and hilarious humour, and we heartily congratulate everyone involved. 

And the reviews are in… 

“Everything about the show was superb! The cast are so talented; the singing, comic timing and acting are all of immensely high quality…I drove home with a heart full of joy!”  (Parent) 

Footloose was inspirational for another parent’s daughter, who is currently at KSA, the parent commenting that, “the quality of voices, choreography and musicality was astounding.” 

“You had me smiling from ear to ear throughout the whole show!”  (Head of Middle Years) 

And the cast: 

“As my first production, I have really enjoyed being part of it. The cast are super talented and worked so hard; being the lead came with its challenges, but with the support of my castmates I had a whale of a time!” (Elijah B) 

“I had an absolutely wonderful time being a part of Footloose, if I could sum it up in one word it would be: ‘snazzy!’” (Tigo M) 

“Exciting, colourful, exhilarating, energetic, and now I’m feeling nostalgic.” (Esther G)