Year 6 pupils wowed audiences with their dazzling performance of Oliver! bringing Charles Dickins’ famous characters to life through the music and songs of Lionel Bart.
The whole school got to enjoy the show with pupils and staff attending the dress rehearsal before the cast performed to parents over two performances. “It was an incredible team effort and all the children acted and performed brilliantly,” said Prep Principal and audience member, Ms Rutterford.
Pupils auditioned in the first week of the Summer term and have been rehearsing since May. Everyone was able to participate and the big choral scenes such as Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, Oom Pah Pah have been a particular favourite.
“Oliver! is a brilliant show that combines wonderful music and great acting opportunities - all types of personalities- with a strong storyline that children can empathise with and understand. The students learn a lot about the Victorian period - they visit the Ragged School in period costume, they research local Victorian families. It’s also a great introduction to Charles Dickens - and what’s not to like about his writing and his characters such as Bumble, Mr Sowerberry, Sykes, Fagin, Dodger and of course the young pauper himself, Oliver Twist!” said Mr Pugh, Latymer Prep’s English teacher and the show’s producer.
“When we embarked on this project, my main hope was relatively modest: take 39 Year 6 pupils and let them have as much fun as possible acting, singing and performing together in this much-loved and challenging musical. The children have been extraordinary - so resilient, creative and hardworking; this cohort of children are musically very talented and there are so many excellent actors. There was also something incredibly special about this run of performances - the experience has brought us all together so positively. Everyone involved really connected and something special was forged over this time, especially after such a difficult 15 months,” he added.
This group last performed together in February 2020, when they put on The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe and they’ve graduated from the Prep on a real high note! We look forward to seeing what they go on to do at Latymer Upper!
Special thanks go to Neil, James and Shivani from the Theatre Department for stage lighting and to the multi-talented Ms Garson for providing the musical accompaniment.
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