Billy Elliot: A Triumphant Whole-School Musical Spectacular
Saturday 7 December 2024
Over three completely sold-out nights, 130 pupils – over a quarter of the school – brought the moving and uplifting story of Billy Elliot to life on the stage of the Clarissa Farr Theatre.
It was a true celebration of the performing arts at Queenswood, with powerful drama, raucous comedy, intricate choreography and stirring music (courtesy of a nine-piece band) all combining to create an unforgettable live experience.
EVA B (Year 9), who played Cheryl from Billy’s beginners ballet class, wrote this delightful insight into the backstage atmosphere as first night approached.
After four months of rushing, dancing and practising, the Billy Elliot production is on a roll! Billy Elliot is all about a boy who finds a hidden talent in ballet and a passion for dance sparks in him. It is a heartfelt story about love, fear and grief.
Many of us have been working amidst the buzz and excitement, learning lines, dances, songs and monologues. While onstage is tailored to perfection, backstage is another dimension. The amazingly hectic atmosphere of excited chatter and flying costumes fills the air and some people are preparing for the next scene or practising upcoming events in the play.
It is great to see people from other year groups communicating and coming together for something they love. The amount of butterflies are nearly bursting out of us. We all can’t wait to perform!
All credit to the teachers who work endless hours to fit every little piece of the jigsaw in its right place and create an astounding image. When we finally merged all of our separate scenes, the show was impeccable. The teachers successfully smoothed over some bumps but the show was off to a great start. Mrs Kelley says that she really loves when ‘students who are in the chorus are so invested and react to everything’.
The dress rehearsals were so much fun with a range of vibrant colours flying across the stage in every scene. All of the stress and worry is what helped us achieve such an exceptional outcome. Dance your way over to Billy Elliot and see where it takes you!
“We went last night to see Billy Elliot, and we loved it. We were amazed and impressed with the play's acting, singing, dancing, production, and music. It was superb!
Every time we go to school for an activity or we meet the teachers we are reassured in our decision to choose Queenswood for our daughter. We are sure she will flourish there.”
You can view a small selection of Case Eames superb photographs below, To view the entire gallery and purchase downloads or prints, please click here.
