Brookfield News

Words & Images: S40 Team

Boys Bottle Up-dated

The Brookfield BBU Young Enterprise team have had a busy two months raising awareness of mental health issues and developing their business model. Following successful pre-show and interval sales at performances of Grease, they have broadened their range of products to include t-shirts as well as the iconic key-ring, touting their message and merchandise at a Trade Fair with other groups.

The team has also identified its core beneficiaries from profits; these are:

• Derbyshire Mind: the local iteration of this vital mental health charity

• P3: a charity, based locally in Ilkeston, specialising in homelessness prevention, mental health and well-being and services for young people

• Derbyshire Federation for Mental Health: a Matlock-established charity aiming to promote mental health, reduce stigma and promote independence

At time of writing the group was also pulling together their final business plan in preparation for the Young Enterprise Derbyshire County Finals on the 30th March. We hope to bring news of success next time.

You can follow the progress of the team on BoysBottleUp

Born to Hand Jive

A cast of 21st century teens turned the clock back to the 50s in a week of rock’n’roll recreation as Brookfield’s talented Performing Arts team brought Grease to the school stage and a new generation of hand-jivers to the aisles.

Two casts – Mustangs and Cadillacs – brought double the pleasure to audiences attending across the four performances. Set against the rivalries of Rydell High, the show features all those hits some readers will be familiar with from the film featuring the recently passed Olivia Newton-John as straight-laced “Sandra Dee” coming to terms with the apparent insouciance of Danny, her summer romance. Year 11 drama stalwart Joe Carter brought a touch of John Travolta and a lot of himself to the role of Danny; while Y13 leading lights - our very own Olivia Gilthorpe and Isabelle Bambrick - alternated as Sandy.

We Go Together: A strong ensemble cast, with excellent choreography by dance teacher Mrs Carter and dance captains Ava Kimpton and Ruby Waring, made it an occasion to remember for the sell-out audiences. Amazing sound, imaginative lighting and an invisibly seamless stage-crew were also co-ordinated by students. The music, conducted in performance by Head of Music Mr Davey, was co-ordinated through the autumn term rehearsals by keyboard player James Smith and the talented band of students from all year groups. There are Worse Things I Could Do: Artistic Director, Head of Performing Arts Mrs Ashley, called the show “exhausting” but “a triumph”. Excellent pre-performance and interval snacks –including 50s-style popcorn cones perfect for a drive-in show were provided by the Brookfield PFA. Summer Nights: If you missed out on Grease, be sure to look out for publicity about our Summer Showcase. On the evidence of the talent illuminating this show, it will be one not to miss.