It may have been back in November but the songs of Beauty and the Beast from Northgate and Dereham Sixth Form’s production still ring in our ears. From the amazing performers on stage to those helping with costumes and make up, staging, musicians, sound, lighting, front of house, ticket sales and more, it really was a family feel with staff and students alike getting involved. Under the superb guidance of Miss Breeze, Head of Drama and Dance, and Miss Brooks, Head of Music, those who came to watch the production were in for a real treat.
Olly, Year 11, gives us his thoughts on this hit show. ‘On the 8th, 9th and the 10th of November the cast and I, performed Beauty and the Beast – The Musical. The show was a sell out almost every night and was worth the 7 months we had been rehearsing. It was a real success and I enjoyed every moment.
I was lucky enough to be one of a handful of people to become a principle character as I took on the role of Maurice (Belle’s father). It was great to act on stage along with over 50 other people and we all became close and created our own little family. It was also amazing to be supported by a live band of over 10 with musicians from both Northgate and Dereham Sixth Form.
On the first night, everyone was so nervous but thanks to the support from the staff giving up their time, and the belief and confidence in us succeeding from Miss Breeze, we managed to pull together and make the first performance the best we could! I couldn’t wait to perform again on Friday and Saturday to my family and friends.
Alex, who played the character of Lefou, said “I thoroughly enjoyed taking up the role of Lefou and being a part of this amazing show. All the support from my peers and staff helped me in being able to craft and engage with the comedic character. I enjoyed working with the rest of the cast and feel like I had joined a second family. Overall I enjoyed being able be a part of this amazing show”
Alongside the amazing musicians and actors, we also had very supportive crew members who were vital in set changes and moving the scene along as well as ensuring everyone was in the right place for a scene. We were also accompanied by a wonderful lighting and sound team from ETS who made the show look professional and create some special effects.
Overall I really enjoyed the experience and thought it was an amazing way to end my time at Northgate, with so many amazing memories to take forward into my future.’
You can read the Dereham Times article here.
