The annual celebration of the multitude of talent that we have here in Blackpool that is Schools Alive, featuring some of the primary and secondary schools in the area, is on this week at the Grand Theatre. We were very lucky to get tickets for Monday's show because this event is always a sell-out.
Promoted by Blackpool Music Service, which has deservedly won the highest ‘National Music Council’ accolade, “The Major Trophy” for being its best Music Service, the show features different schools each evening.
Tonight, it was the turn of Park School, Kincraig Primary, St. John’s C of E Primary, Unity College, Palatine Community Sports College, Roseacre Primary, Collegiate High School, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary and Thames Primary.
Compered and introduced by our very own Star of Radio - Hayley from Radio Wave’s Breakfast Show - the evening was brilliant from start to finish. Hayley began by telling us all to switch our mobile phones off or onto silent and also to remember that we weren’t at Bloomfield but in the gorgeous Grand Theatre. Some people may not realise that Blackpool’s Grand Theatre is one of the most beautiful theatres in the world and that performing on that stage is something really special.
The show began with Park School’s Brass Band who played a selection of foot tapping tunes. It is really great to see the tradition of brass bands is in safe hands and that it is not in danger of fading away.
Then Kincraig Primary gave us their version of “Staying Alive” with great enthusiasm and lovely dresses.
St. John’s C of E Primary presented an ambitions sketch entitled “The Only Way is made in Blackpool”, reminding us of how very lucky we are to live in the entertainment capital of the world. Their rendition of the song “Blackpool Belle” and of the monologue “The Lion and Albert” was delightful and their final song in praise of fish and chips very catchy.
Then came Unity College with an excellent mixture of mime and also singing themselves some of the songs and dances from “Sister Act”.
Palatine Community Sports College finished the first half in true theatre tradition with a professional and polished performanc - singing and dancing their way through songs from the show “Lion King”. The costumes, props and make up were absolutely awesome and the singing and dancing to an extremely high standard indeed. We take our hats off to the pupils from Palatine Community Sports College because we would have been scared stiff on that stage in front of a packed house but there was no sign of nerves at all in this slick performance.
Roseacre Primary came in straight after the Interval with “Grease Lightning” – brilliant use of props such as hubcaps as drums, blow-up guitars and an impressive piece of scenery in the shape of a red car from which popped some of the lads straight from Rydell High.
Collegiate High School sang and performed “Food glorious food”, “Consider Yourself Well In” and “Oom pa pa” from Oliver with great gusto, followed by a dance choreographed to music from the “Lion King” from Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary.
Thames Primary School finished off the evening “Daisy’s Dream” – a modern moral tale with some excellent and very amusing performances narrated, sung and danced by magic mushrooms, wise owls, ninja squirrels, a ‘fab four’ of beetles, complete with guitars and drums, lots of fairies, some elf confidence, leprechauns, a rainbow and a pot of gold. The young lady who played the part of Daisy also sang and played guitar.
WELL DONE EVERYBODY! Apologies if we have left anyone out – there was just so much to see.
It would not be fair to pick out one school as our favourite because the standard was very high indeed and we are aware of the differences the teachers have with the material they work with.
All credit to the teachers as well as to the pupils because a standard that high cannot be reached without hours and hours of dedicated unpaid overtime.
Each evening, there are programmes of acts: Tuesday is the turn of BASSO, Christ the King Catholic Primary, Woodlands School, Revoe Community Primary, St. Mary’s Catholic College, St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary. St. George’s C of E College, Devonshire Primary, Mereside Primary, Bispham High,
Wednesday – First Beat Orchestra, Holy Family Catholic, Baines C of E Primary, St. Kentigern’s Catholic Primary, Norbreck Primary, Claremont Primary, Bispham Endowed Primary, Anchorsholme Primary and finally on Thursday – Layton Primary, Waterloo Primary, Hawes Side Primary, Moor Park Primary, Melissa Miles BMS Brass Band, BMC Youth Concert Band, Marton Primary, Westcliff Primary and Montgomery High.
Hayley promises to mention the schools on the Radio Wave Breakfast Show each morning - worth getting up early for.
