On Monday, about 30 of us went to the Shaw Theatre, right by the British Library, for the National School Theatre Awards ceremony. It was a fun blend of madness in a professional environment and our own experience of a mini Oscars, with a highlight being meeting influencer Abby Budden. We performed two numbers- Be Our Guest with the castle ensemble and Vanessa’s solo A Change In Me- and loved the supportive, interesting environment we were in.

We left school at lunchtime and carried our costumes (including super-sized cutlery) to the venue, where we were thankful for the air conditioning! We had a quick tech run before meeting all the schools and the host in the auditorium for the first time. After this, we had some time to relax in the park across the road before the red carpet event started, and changed into our “Glitz and Glamour” themed outfits. Luckily we steered clear of the proposed football shirts, but there were a few pairs of jeans among us (you know who you are…)!

Put simply, it was incredible- the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre and see the talent of other young people across the country was a real treat. In particular, we loved the slick performance of There She Goes from Fame by Ashfield, and the feel-good vibe of another school’s Revolting Children. We may be biased, but for us the standout performance had to be Vanessa’s solo, which earned her Best Female Solo- we’re so proud! With awards presented by both Kara Tointon and David Bradley, it was a great night of inspirational performances, with a bit of the backstage madness of live theatre. We loved every bit, and only hope we can go again. Au revoir Beauty and the Beast and à bientôt, National School Theatre Awards!

Oliver and Eva, Year 10

 

Vanessa, Year 13, won the National School Theatre award 2024 for Best Female Musical Solo