3 minute read
A sweet success
A sweet success
Sarah Combes Curriculum Leader of the Arts
The opening line from O’Shaughnessey’s famous poem Ode spoken by Willy Wonka in the 1971 film of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory does not feature in the Broadway Musical adaptation. However, the rebellious spirit of this poem, dedicated to artists and dreamers, provided us with much inspiration when bringing Roald Dahl’s muchloved classic to the Dickinson Centre stage.
The power of dreams is celebrated through the characters of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, who both share a talent for making something out of nothing. Having been deprived of luxury and treats enjoyed by the other golden ticket winners, Charlie Bucket must rely on his imagination to entertain himself.
Imagination proved an essential ingredient when exploring the outrageous visions swirling around Willy Wonka’s head. With many larger-than-life characters for students to portray, this show was incredibly fun to rehearse and perform. While the complex musical score demanded many hours of rehearsal, the dedication shown by the cast throughout the process to strengthen their vocals and improve performance skills, ensured they met and exceeded expectations with outstanding results.
This was our third Senior School production staged during the pandemic, which meant having a constant rotation of students away. We were able to navigate these obstacles by rehearsing outside, working in small groups, wearing masks and double casting the lead roles.
“This production was double cast, which meant that there were two students for each lead role. This was quite special as it gave more people the opportunity to be a part of the show. It also allowed the two students with the same role to share their ideas with one another to support and excel together. A lot of great friendships were made because of this.” Hudson Grant (Year 12) Willy Wonka.
“To Scotch boys wanting to get involved and haven’t been a part of a musical before, I absolutely suggest trying out for any production/musical that comes your way. You will be taught great lessons, meet new people, and learn new skills at every rehearsal and show. The most important skills I developed through this experience, were my communication skills, and working as a team. A show can’t be done individually, and I was shown that every single person played an important part in creating the musical.” Archie Gilchrist (Year 10) Willy Wonka.
