William Brookes School Blog

We always knew last year’s production of ‘The Boyfriend’ was going to be a hard act to follow.  Well we think we might just have the answer, and, if ticket sales are anything to go by, ‘Guys and Dolls’ already looks like another winner.

Everybody involved in the show has really been enjoying the experience: it’s clear the cast and directors have been taking it all very seriously and rehearsals have revealed some sublime performances.

We are expecting a review of the show fairly soon and possibly some more photos. Until then, here’s the cast tuning up for the performance.

If you saw the show, please give us some feedback by leaving a comment at the foot of this article.

Now, thanks to Tom Poole for the following review:

Guys and Dolls
Performed by the WBS Musical Theatre Company
By Tom Poole
Frank Loesser’s ‘Guys and Dolls’ was performed by the WBS Musical Theatre Company from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th March.

Based on two of Dam Runyon’s short stories and written by Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls is a fast paced and exciting musical concerning, as ever, love. Gambling fiend Nathan Detroit is in need of money to stage his crap game and he stages a bet with Sky Masterston that Sky cannot get the next ‘doll’ he sees to fall in the love with him. Unfortunately the next woman to walk through the door is local missionary Sarah Brown. With Sky’s attempts to woo Sarah Brown played out against Nathan’s longstanding engagement to showgirl Miss Adelaide, numerous other characters combine to make this an enchanting musical.

Every aspect of the performance was wonderful, with the students showing their theatrical vitality in a mix of singing, dancing and acting. The four main characters were superbly performed, with Sarah Brown played by Jenny Beddow and Laura Whitehouse, Nathan Detroit by James Newman, Miss Adelaide by Elise Biddulph and Amber Regan and Sky Masterston by Robbie Smith. The musical numbers were well choreographed and sung and the acting was carried out with comedic aplomb. Special mention must of course go to James Newman, who took the last two night’s performances in his stride despite having a broken arm. The orchestra was also great, providing fitting accompaniants to the singing, and kudos must go to all those who worked behind the scenes to help make this production as good as it was.

They know what happened; where it happened; to whom it was done and how it was done, but just  W H O  D I D  I T ?

Filmed at the scene of the crime, investigative reporter Chris Walthorne broadcasts the cold facts about the sinister event.  As crack forensics team Aaron Cooke and Rachel Bragg busy themselves with revealing clues about the attacker’s identity, our reporter informs us what the police already know - and what they don’t.

The appeal to uncover the perpetrator was launched during Year 8 assembly on Monday morning and Mrs Lacey was there to brief all the students on WBS CSI.

Expert groups would undertake forensic tests on a number of clues - analysing blood samples (synthetic) to try and establish blood type etc. Expert witnesses would present their findings on Friday.

English students would hold press conferences and try their hand at psychological profiling. Whilst maths would help expose the culprit by breaking the all important code.

Year 8 students attending Science Club got to put their observation skills to the test on January 29th, when they took part in a bird watch for the RSPB. They saw 2 bullfinches, 2 blackbirds, 2 robins, 2 chaffiinches, a dunnock, a carrion crow, a wren and a magpie.

One of the students commenting on the activity said “When you think of bird watching, you think it is so BORING, but when you get around to it, it is kind of fun in the right kind of surroundings”.

The Science Club have put together an identification parade of some of our feathered friends and are hoping to release it as a small quiz in the near future. Watch this space!

Four of our Year 12 students took part in a public speaking venture in the middle of February, against six other schools. Dan Thomas, Tom Pooler, James Eccles and Christina Law attended the Blessed Robert Johnson School and delivered a six minute speech on the subject of ‘violence in sport’.

The team had to research the subject, rehearse the speech, develop presentation skills and perform in front of a large audience, including judges.

Their speech was fine tuned in front of a number of classes and staff members, where the feedback helped the students improve delivery, pace, projection and posture.

They developed successful relaxation techniques to help them stay calm and cope with the inevitable nerves on the big night.

After the event, our team concluded that the audience were ‘impressed with our delivery and style’.

Did they gain from the challenge? ‘Yes, UCAS points, a certificate, a £10 voucher and increased confidence all round’.  The team would definitely like to do it all again next year.

Film Studies students have been busy promoting a performance as part of their work for the Young Promoters Scheme. Pathway to the Red Sun is set in a futuristic Japan and is a fusion of acrobatics, opera and horror, with a love interest. Something for everyone, by the sounds of it.

The show will air for one night only, and tickets are on sale now at £8/£6 with a special rate of just £4 for students. So, if you want a ticket you’d better beat a pathway to the Edge, pronto. Performance is Thursday 5th March at 7.30 pm.

Click on the poster to jump to the website.