We Will Rock You - Schools Edition

We Will Rock You – School Edition – a musical performed by students from Ormskirk School, on Thursday, 19th October 2023 in the Theatre at Ormskirk School, Wigan Road, Ormskirk. 

Before I start my review, could I please take the opportunity, on behalf of NODA (National Operatic and Drama Association) to welcome the students and staff from Ormskirk School to the NODA North West District 6 family.  This was the school’s first production since joining NODA during the Summer and on the Saturday before opening night, I had the privilege and pleasure to be invited to school to watch one of the final rehearsals and to speak with the students and staff about NODA… l really do hope that this is just the start of a long and productive association.

We Will Rock You… written by Ben Elton featuring more than twenty of ‘Queens’ fabulous hit singles! Set in the future (2322), in a vaguely Orwellian World, where live music has died and instruments banned. On the ‘iPlanet’, mainstream commercial conformity reigns… the ‘Ga Ga Kids’ watch the same movies, listen to the same computer-generated music, wear the same clothes, and hold the same thoughts and opinions. ‘Galileo Figaro’ and ‘Scaramouche’, our two leaders, go on a quest alongside a group of rebels called ‘The Bohemians’ in an attempt to overthrow ‘The Global soft Corporation’ and its ‘boss’ ‘The Killer Queen’ and help establish a New World where rock music can thrive again! 

Production Team… I’m of the opinion that this isn’t the easiest of productions to stage, especially when you have a cast of fifty-five to consider, but after saying that, the creative opportunities and the unique performance opportunities offered by this musical are endless… so, having now seen it… all I can say is that Sarah Simm and Paula Hodgson (Directors) knew exactly what they wanted from this musical and how to achieve it… plus, I can only think, that having no choreographer listed that the same two ladies developed the dance routines, which were simple, yet effective and played to the strengths of all the cast… so it really is congratulations Sarah/Paula on what was a truly great production, be ever so proud!  We also had Dave Pearson (Musical Director) and James Ellwood (Vocal Coach) to the fore. One ‘big fear’ of mine, in any musical, is that the music overpowers the vocals… especially where young voices are concerned… I also feel it important that we have the opportunity to hear every lyric sung, especially from such fabulous songs as in this musical, which we did… the band complimented the singers wonderfully throughout, allowing those young voices and every lyric to be heard perfectly… be very proud you two… great job!

The Cast… from the smiles on the faces of each and every cast member, from the energy that just poured out from that stage… it was obvious that the fifty-five young people involved on stage that evening were giving us their all whilst having the time of their young lives, and let’s face it, there really is very little more you can ask! Those who have read my reviews before will know this is where I usually ‘stick my neck out’ and start selecting MY ‘showstealer’ and MY ‘favourite characters’… but there are times when this really isn’t appropriate, and this was one of those occasions, to say someone was better than someone else would be unfair in my opinion, but having said that, I do think it would be remiss of me not to give a few ‘shout-outs’ to some outstanding performances… so where to start!  I would suggest that we had seven principal characters… three couples and a ‘hippie’ librarian… so let’s start with our leads ‘Galileo Figaro’ and ‘Scaramouche’ played by Harley Disley and Izzy Chapple respectively.  ‘Galileo’... ‘The Dreamer’, the misfit, the central protagonist in all of this… was played superbly well by Harley. Confident, assured, full of energy, great stage presence… Harley left nothing on that stage that evening, be very proud young man!  ‘Scaramouche’… the misfit, the outsider, cynical but witty and I would suggest a ‘luv interest’ to and for Galileo. Izzy, just made this part her own… oozed stage presence, confident, another that left nothing on stage… well done Izzy, great job!  Second pairing… ‘Oz’ and ‘Brit’ played by Paige Kennedy and Charlie Geldart respectively.  Again, two more that made these parts their own!  ‘Oz’ the Bohemian rock chick, tough and sexy… Paige just oozes stage presence, loved the chemistry between them both, be proud Paige.  ‘Brit’ the Bohemian Leader, who dies for the cause… played ever so well by Charlie.  Charlie had the task of dealing with a ‘rogue mike’… but he never looked phased even when a hand-held mike was thrust into his hand… just carried on singing a dancing… impressive Charlie, would have thrown many… be proud young man!  Third couple… was our ‘Killer Queen’ and ‘Khashoggi’ played by Emily Mayne and Roman Murphy respectively.  ‘Killer Queen’ the ruthless businesswoman in charge of Global Soft was played with effortless ease by Emily. Amazing stage presence, assured, just oozed confidence which is what this role demands… be very proud Emily, great job!  Khashoggi… Police Commander, dogsbody to Killer Queen, Roman looked the part, good stage presence, did really well as the ‘baddie’… well done Roman!  Our final principal was ‘Buddy’ the hippie Bohemian Librarian… played with great aplomb by Bethany Frackelton.  Another that looked so comfortable in this role!  Wonderful characterisation, great stage presence, I really did like Bethany’s take on this semi comedic role … be ever so proud Bethany!  This musical generously shares out those wonderful Queen songs amongst the principal characters, making it ideal for a youth or school production.  There is little or no doubt that Ormskirk School are blessed with some wonderfully talented singers, many of them showing up in the principal roles in this production and these musical numbers just allowed them all to show of those obvious talents whilst allowing us to appreciate that those talents that are being nurtured within the school!  With fifty-five in the cast, naming everyone is difficult, but if I can just say that the other named characters and the unnamed ensemble supported the principals ever so well… they included (first names only sorry) … Katie, Hazel, Hannah and Isabelle our Teen Queens.  We had Grace, Faith, Will, Lucilla, Evie, Elle, Abigail, Will, Joseph, Tehya, Isla, Zoe, Eva, Daniel, Madison, Neve, Charlotte, Imogen, Leon, Zarai, Belle, Sophia, Chloe, Aimee, Amelia, Emily, Ben, Erin, Megan, Mila, Daniel, Emily, Daisy, Amelia, Grace, Maggie, Jess, Ewan, Faye, Alex, Layla, Grace, Lola and Eden… be very proud each and all… you all did your jobs which helped create this great musical… BE EVER SO PROUD!

The Band… Dave Pearson (Musical Director) – Guitar; James Ellwood (Vocal Coach) – Guitar and Piano; Adrian Smith – Drums and Percussion; Thomas Mather – Bass; Tess Raynor – Piano and Keyboard; Alfie Jones Rigby – Piano and Keyboard; and finally Hannah Ainsworth – Guitar… and as previously stated… they accompanied and supported these young singers wonderfully well throughout the entire production,
whilst providing us with some wonderful sounds…. be proud folks!  

Staging/Tech… OMG … the staging was fabulous; the use of the ‘video wall’ was effective and amazing offering endless opportunities!  The lighting was first class, was a little worried early on with the seemingly endless amounts of haze which can and does affect people in many different ways… but even that did not take anything away from the wonderful images and situations created.  Congrats to the Stage Management Team… Leah Eastwood and Rosa Barker; the Student Technicians… Nathan Rowles and Penny Lougher… and the outside Technicians… Sam Robinson-Davies, Scott Makin, Mark Dean, Matt Hughes and Alistair Woodward.  Be very proud guys… what you help create, enhanced this production ever so much!  Costumes/Props were fabulous and again enhanced the production ever so much.

Can I offer just one small pieces of ‘constructive advice’ …
i) Accents are so important in theatre, but never let the accent get too strong that the spoken word is lost or can’t be understood… if you lose the narrative, then the story can get lost to!

Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I… it really was a privilege and a pleasure to be with you that evening as it was at the rehearsal!  Thanks to Sarah for her welcome… we really did enjoy the evening, loved the production and can’t wait until we meet you all again soon…   

Stay safe and keep well….
“Stronger Together”

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.