ARTS STARS

The arts take centre stage, with a triumphant West End show for Francis Holland pupils and a rising-talent Highgate author

SHOWTIME AT FRANCIS HOLLAND

Francis Holland students lit up the West End stage with ‘Made in Dagenham'

In February, students from Year 7 to Year 13 at Francis Holland School, Sloane Square took to the West End for a performance of the musical Made in Dagenham. Staged at the Adelphi, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s family of six iconic theatres, this was also the place where the fi rst ever theatrical performance of the show happened in 2014.

The fi rst day the girls were even able to rehearse in the theatre, all previous rehearsals having taken place in the school hall. The performance attracted an audience of over 500 to watch the show about the Ford sewing machinists’ strike of 1968 to fi ght for equal pay and conditions. Amazing props included a real-life Ford car, sourced and transformed by the FHS Art and Facilities Departments, for the musical number 'Cortina'. FHS is renowned for its performing arts and puts on 12 productions a year, ranging from classic drama to physical theatre. Notable alumnae include Sienna Miller and Emerald Fennell.

TOP Francis Holland pupils took to the West End stage LEFT Graphic novel author Theo Behe worked with Tom Muzzell

YOUNG HIGHGATE AUTHOR PUBLISHED

A Highgate School student Theo Behe is set to become a published author

It’s not often that a student project gets transformed into a book, but that’s what has happened to Highgate School student Theo Behe, 14. His story, Johnny Recruit, is out as a graphic novel this spring through independent publisher Markosia, and with gripping illustrations by Tom Muzzell.

Theo was inspired by the heroic wartime exploits of Bert Houle, his great uncle and a Canadian RAF fl ying ace. The idea grew out of a primary school project, and his familiarity with the graphic novel format enabled him to develop a strong story line.

Set in wartime Canada, England and Germany, Johnny Recruit has a teenage hero who, when he learns his uncle has been captured, sets out to save him. Theo will be Markosia’s youngest ever published writer. By coincidence, both Theo and Tom Muzzell had a great uncle Bert who served with distinction in the War. Theo says of his Uncle Bert: “He made our family proud, so I wanted to write some fun adventures around him”.