‘A Night at the Musicals’ Review

In a first-of-its-kind theatrical production for Woodbridge School, students from every year performed A Night at the Musicals in School on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings this week.  The show was a result of an intense and exciting 72-hour workshop with our Drama team, Head of Singing Miss Weston, Singing teacher Miss Barnes and choreographer and OW Kath Clements.   

Huge congratulations to everyone involved, on and off the stage, both performances were incredible and it’s clear to see how much the students enjoyed this unique experience.  We hope you had the chance to see the show for yourselves, but if you didn’t our review shares more details about the performances. 

Theatre Review 

As the audience sat in anticipation of a show they really knew very little about, other than that it promised to be a selection of songs and performances from the world of musical theatre, you could hear the whispers of, “So what songs will they be singing?” And “Do you know how many numbers they’re going to perform?”, met with, “Absolutely none at all!” and “They’ve had just 72 hours to decide and rehearse to put on this show!”, set the audience on a journey of anticipation and surprise as they sat back to watch the ‘curtain’ go up on what turned out to be a wonderful evening of theatre for everyone. 

With 66 students from across the School performing together, it was always going to be something special – you would certainly be forgiven for thinking they’d had weeks rather than days to devise, rehearse and prepare for the shows. 

From the beginning, our compere Year 13’s Fergus had the audience captivated.  His introductions were anticipated throughout the show, and it’s fair to say he was an integral part of the performance, a clever addition to help the audience take the journey through the years of theatrical music and dance and to put each one into perspective – with the most amount of fun you can imagine. 

From the reimagined Wizard of Oz, The Wiz opened the show with a bang, as the stage came to life, and set the scene for what was about to be shared.  Students donned jeans and branded A Night at the Musicals t-shirts and the understated stage, which relied on dropped microphones, chairs and minimal props for our actors, was quickly brought to life with the energy and passion of each performance, taking everyone instantly to the very musical from which it came. 

Moving through the musicals, audiences enjoyed a seamless variety of hits from across the ages and stages. 

From Naughty from Matilda, Luck Be A Lady from Guys and Dolls, Teachers’ Pet from School of Rock and Don’t Tell Mamma from Cabaret, to Ex Wives from SIX, and Does Your Mumma Know from Mamma Mia, the stage was a whirlwind of dancing, singing and even guitar solos which rocked the theatre – the audience anticipated each and every one as much as the other, right up to our grand finale which was absolutely breathtaking.  Slipping Through My Fingers also from Mamma Mia, was a beautifully gentle end to the show, rounding everything off perfectly.  It’s fair to say there may have been one or two emotions spilling over listening to this evocative song sung beautifully, with perfect choreography. 

As the students came to the stage to receive their applause and take a bow, they sang and danced to Come Alive from The Greatest Showman, a fitting end to such a vibrant and surprising evening of entertainment. 

You really had to see it to believe it; to believe that this is what our students are able to produce and perform with just 72 hours of intensive workshopping, singing and choreography support – it was brilliant – and so much fun! 

Congratulations to everyone who took part, on and off the stage, to those that sang, danced, played guitar and kept our audiences tapping their toes in their seats.  Despite the fact that these students must have been mentally and physically exhausted from the intensity of the last 72 hours, it never showed on their faces or in their performances.  Well done also to our teachers and other members of staff who made the show possible – it’s definitely one we will never forget.