Performances

Previous Productions:

West Side Story- Jan 2024

We are sure that everyone who was lucky enough to attend one of last week’s performances of ‘West Side Story’ will agree that it was a brilliant, fantastic stunning and superb show; we have run out of superlatives! There were amazing performances from the whole cast, from those students playing the lead roles to those in the supporting ‘ensemble’, and we hope that they all enjoyed the experience as much as we enjoyed watching them. Thank you to all the students who provided technical and ‘backroom’ support too, the show would not have happened without you!

Thank you also to all the staff who have supported the production, but especially to Miss Burgess, Miss Shorrock and Miss Twigg for the time, commitment and energy they have put into the production and for the stress they have endured throughout the rehearsals! You really have done a fantastic job in giving our students such an amazing platform to showcase their talents and in giving them an experience that they will remember forever.

Thank you also to everyone who has sent messages to the Academy to congratulate the cast and crew on the production. Three of the many messages we have received can be found below.

 ‘I would like to take this opportunity to say how lovely it was to attend the show last night. It was outstanding and every student and all the staff who made the show happen are an absolute credit to both themselves and the Academy. My family and I would definitely give it a five-star rating and look forward to visiting future events.’

‘We attended West Side Story last night, the show was amazing, very professional, from the ensemble to the lead characters. Everyone put their heart and soul into the performance. The set, music, lighting and choreography were just brilliant, what a lot of hard work has gone into the production. Well done to all the staff and pupils for a great show!’

‘I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you for putting on such a great show! We were all absolutely blown away with how professional it was. Walking into the entrance felt like we were walking in to a West End Theatre, not a school and It was immediately clear to see how much work the staff and pupils put into it. Our daughter loved every minute of it and can’t wait to find out what the production will be next year. What a talented bunch of young people you have, they were unbelievable! .

Below is the official NODA review that the school received as an adjudication of their performance;

NODA review- Author: Kevin Proctor

As an ardent admirer of this classic and highly celebrated work, I ventured into Droylsden Academy’s semi-immersive production with excitement. On arrival, the idea of walking into Manhattan’s West Side was apparent, greeted by pupils of the school, in character, asking us to pick which gang (‘jets’ or ‘sharks’) we wanted to join, upon choosing we were given a sticker to wear to cement our recruitment for the evening. Having cherished the original film along with an array of cast recordings and not forgetting the recent film revival, I couldn’t help but hold high expectations for this beloved musical, eager to witness the interpretation brought to life by a younger generation.

It was evident that this production was fuelled by passion and dedication. The energy pulsating through the venue was palpable, a testament to the verve and commitment of the cast, team and staff. It’s heartening to see the enduring legacy of this musical being passed down to a new generation, with performers who have undoubtedly submerged themselves in the essence of the production which, I’m sure, will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of many of these youngsters for years to come which itself is something that brings me vast joy and pride.
 

Hearing Bernstein’s iconic score took me to my element, not only transporting me through so much nostalgia but – as intended – to the gritty streets of 1950s New York. Despite my familiarity with the material, I found myself captivated by the fresh perspective and youthful vigour injected into it.

Conquering ‘West Side Story’ is no small task, given its reputation for rigorously testing the capabilities of every theatre department. As much as it will pain many people for me to say, (even myself in some cases!) I believe – in many ways – it was a smart move to use backing tracks. This score is insanely advanced and as much as I cherish hearing the score live, one : it’s a very expensive luxury and forgoing this cost still wouldn’t guarantee you a precise product and two : I entirely appreciate the comfort in performing to tracks knowing exactly what you’re going to get which can help the creatives (and cast) to relax and focus on the – oh so many – other areas. So please don’t feel as though using tracks was a cop out, for this venture, I entirely appreciate the decision.

The pace of the scene work was drilled and so much of the script work was entirely understood by the cast, the principals appeared confident and drilled with what was expected of them, something not to be taken for granted. Additionally, what should not be underestimated is articulation, there was hardly a syllable missed throughout the entire performance which is to be highly commended. It feels very unfair to single out individuals in what is essentially an ensemble effort, however, I cannot submit this report without mentioning Maria’s voice which soared with breathtaking clarity, beautiful! – infusing the stage with raw emotion and vulnerability. Furthermore, Anita’s portrayal was a tour-de-force of acting prowess from someone of her years, infusing the character with depth and complexity, both of their performances were magnetic and their presence commanded attention, leaving an indelible impression to a degree rarely experienced in school productions. I will not continue to give any further individual critiques in this write-up through fear of it turning into something which resembles a menu!

This production did indeed boast many standout qualities, anyone who knows this show will appreciate that choreography is a mammoth ask of any production of it, of course there were mixed abilities amongst the cast but what I did admire was how this was tackled head on and every performer was undeniably giving us their very best attempts. There’s a lot of dance in this show and it has to be applauded how hardly any of it was trimmed, which it so easily could’ve been. It was also clear how some cast members were more advanced than others (inevitable) which could have been showcased more. It’s far from easy to have to set so much movement to cater for all levels and drilling it to get it as presentable as possible is incredibly time consuming so tremendous applause here also! This school, sadly, doesn’t proffer from a dedicated theatre space – many new build schools don’t which is a huge shame, therefore this was a makeshift auditorium in its canteen, a huge space which would benefit from improved masking so we didn’t see the backstage area as much as we did, I’m not saying this to quibble, merely as support to sharpen the overall impact if possible, ensuring that the audience remains fully immersed in the unfolding drama without getting the distractions of what’s going on backstage.

 It’s evident that the cast and crew poured their hearts and souls into bringing this wonderful musical to life on stage. The school is fortunate to have passionate staff who inspire a sense of dedication and discipline in the pupils, nurturing their talents and fostering a love for the performing arts, what’s not to love about that!

Such a commendable effort showcasing the potential and promise of these young performers, the enthusiasm displayed by the cast and crew are truly commendable. As a fervent admirer of the musical, I applaud the school’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the legacy of such an iconic piece in musical theatre history ensuring that it continues to inspire and resonate with audiences for generations to come.

UDance- Lowry Salford- March 2024

Congratulations to our Dance Academy who performed their choreographed piece ‘Our Way’ at U.Dance’s regional Dance Festival which was held at the Lowry Theatre last Saturday! U.Dance is a national festival that celebrates Youth Dance across the UK, with each region hosting a weekend of workshops, led by industry professionals, dance activities and an evening performance to showcase the talent from that area. During the day, our students took part in a workshop with the ‘Coalesce Dance Theatre’, worked with undergraduate dance students from Salford University, competed in an array of dance challenges and ‘jammed’ with other performers from across the region, before kicking off the evening’s showcase as the first performers on stage!

‘NorthWestDance’, who attended the event, really enjoyed the performance of ‘Our Way’, commenting that the routine was a great example of ‘dance in a school setting’ and congratulating the girls on a ‘very well drilled and sleek performance’. They were also very impressed by the group’s commitment and the level of their performance skills. A huge thank you and well done from Miss Shorrock to all the members of the Droylsden Dance Academy on your hard work, commitment and positivity throughout the hours of rehearsals, your creativity and professionalism, your infectious energy throughout the day and, of course, on your incredible performance on the evening itself. She is so, so, so, so proud of you!

The members of the Droylsden Dance Academy are Taali Allikmaa, Mariama Balde, Caitlin ConnorLowe, Olivia Deakin, Isabella Edwards, Alyssa Evans, Megan Evans, Layla Francis, Chloe Glover, Neesee Ama Jamera, Kara Meadowcroft, Jessica Nelson, Lacie Nevins, Lily-Mae Nicholls, Daisy Morris, Rayah Norris, Mia Pearce, Emma Petrova, Hannah Phillips, Cate Roberts, Faridat Salami, Stephanie Sargaco, Eva Walklett, Dottie Siddall, Isabella Sinclair and Holly Taylor.

Battle of the Bands Final- Academy 2- March 2024

Battle of the Bands Congratulations to Sonda who played a fantastic set at the regional final of ‘Battle of the Bands’ at Academy 2 in Manchester last weekend. You may remember that the band, made up of Jasmine Beckwith on Bass Guitar, Evie Quinlan on Vocals, Logan Latchford on Lead Guitar and Harry Chambers on Drums, had won the first round and were representing Tameside against other up and coming bands from across Greater Manchester. Although Sonda didn’t win the competition, they had an amazing experience and received some glowing feedback from Andy Stott, Head of Popular Music at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Judge on the evening, who made the following comments: 

• Great energy and engagement with the audience, you guys really rock out;
• A convincing lead vocal; 
• Creative arrangements and original material; 
• Good use of guitar effects to fill the space; 
• Solid rhythm section; 
• Impressive guitar solos; and 
• The bass player is a Rock Star!

The Droylsden Schools Partnership Vocal Evening -March 2024

Miss Burgess organised another wonderful ‘Vocal Evening’ for students from the Academy and four of our Partner Primary Schools, Greenside, St Marys, Manchester Road and Fairfield Road. The theme for the show was ‘Musicals’ with our performers choosing songs from ‘Shrek’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Jesus Christ, Superstar’, ‘Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and ‘Six’. Over a hundred students from our Partner Primaries performed on the evening everyone came together for the final song, a rousing rendition of ‘This is Me’ from ‘The Greatest Showman’! Thank you Miss Burgess for another great night!

The Voice- May 2024

Droylsden Academy’s ‘The Voice’ 2024! A huge congratulations to Rayah Norris, from Year 9, who won this year’s competition of ‘The Voice’ and to Bethany Mawocha and Mamadou Samb Gueye, from Year 8, who were judged to be best newcomers for 2024! Rayah sang ‘Home’ from Beetlejuice and Bethany and Mamadou sang ‘Let Me Love You’ by Mario.

Well done to all this year’s finalists; the standard was really high and the judging panel, made up of Mrs Jackson, Mrs Whitehead and Mr Mayell, had a really tough evening choosing their eventual winners. This year’s finalist were:

Annie Banks (Y7)  ‘All is found’ (Frozen 2)

Megan Evans (Y7) ‘One last time’ (Ariana Grande)

Eva Walklett (Y7) ‘Wrecking Ball’ (Miley Cyrus)

Rubie-Lillie Clark (Y7) ‘Easy on me’ (Adele)

Amareece Odgie (7) ‘A Million Dream’ (The Greatest Showman)

Bethany Mawocha & ‘Let me Love you’ (Mario) Mamadou Samb (Y8)

Mia Pearce (Y9) ‘Pretty Funny’ (Dogfight, the Musical)

Rayah Norris (Y9) ‘Home’ (Beetlejuice, the Musical)

Isaac Short (Y10) ‘Song’ (Donny Hathaway)

Izzy Sinclair & ‘SOS’ (Mamma Mia, the Musical) Evie Quinlan (Y10)

Millie Haggerty (Y10) ‘With you’ (Ghost, the Musical)

DSP Vocal Evening- April 2024

Salford University New Adelphi Theatre Dance Academy Performance- June 2024

The Academy Dance Troupe took part in a fantastic Contemporary Dance Workshop at Salford University before performing as a curtain raiser for ‘Emergence’, a professional group based at the University, at a show that evening. ‘Emergence’ have just completed a UK Tour and Friday’s show was their final date back on home ground in Salford. The afternoon workshop was led by the brilliant Debbie Milner and included a technical run for the evening performance at the New Adelphi Theatre. Our students practised and then performed their own piece, ‘Our Way’, as the first guest group out in the evening, and were brilliant! Well done to everyone involved; Ms Shorrock was really proud of you and the evening was a fitting end to a great year of Dance!

“A night at the musicals”- July 2024

Thank you to the Year 7 Performing Arts Elective and their guests for a wonderful night’s

entertainment at this week’s end of year show. The theme for the evening was ‘A Night at the Musicals’ and there really was something for everyone!

The Elective sang, danced and acted their way through a variety of great musicals including ‘And Juliet’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Blood Brothers’, ‘The Lion King’, ‘Footloose’, ‘Matilda’,‘Hairspray’ and ‘The Greatest Showman’, whilst the Academy Vocal Group sang ‘This is our Story’ from ‘Shrek’, the Year 7 Dance Club performed a routine to ‘Zero to Hero’ from ‘Hercules’, the Dance Academy performed a routine to ‘The Frug’ from ‘Sweet Charity’ and we even had a wonderful rendition of ‘How far I’ll go’ by our very own Ukulele Group!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Miss Burgess, Ms Shorrock and Ms Twigg for everything they do for the Performing Arts at our school and for giving our students so many opportunities to perform and showcase their talents!

Shakspeare School Festival- Twelfth Night- March 2023

A huge well done to all those students involved in the Academy production of Shakespeare’s

‘Twelfth Night’, which they performed at the Contact Theatre in Manchester last week, as part of the nationally acclaimed Shakespeare Schools Festival. Three schools from the North West performed on the evening with each one performing excerpts from their respective plays. Twelfth Night is a comedy set on the imaginary island of Illyria and, after weeks of rehearsals, our budding thespians gave a wonderful performance which the audience and representatives from the Royal Shakespeare Company thoroughly enjoyed. Well done to everyone involved and we really hope that you enjoyed the experience!

 Cast:

Orsino Leyla Francis

Valentine Olivia Deakin

Viola Evie Quinlan

Ship’s Captain Nassim Rivoire

Sir Toby Belch Izzy Sinclair

Maria Olivia Mansell

Sir Andrew Aguecheek Macey Ellison

Olivia Pippa Mansell

Malvolio Taali Allikmaa

Antonio Alyssa Evans

Sebastian Lily-Mae Nicholls

Priest Deborah Ajayi

1st Officer Chloe Gibson

2nd Officer Amanda Levanaviciute

Narrator Emma Petrova

The following report was written by Evie Quinlan from Year 9 who played the part of Viola.

‘Taking part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival was such an amazing experience. Obviously, we all

had to work hard to learn lines and navigate the difficult Shakespearean language but it all paid off

in the end. We all had so much fun in our rehearsals and especially in our half-day workshop, which

was delivered by the company running the festival. We all enjoyed making our characters our own,

and really bringing out the comedy of our show ‘Twelfth Night’. But, of course, we couldn’t have done

it without the support and dedication of Miss Twigg, from the blocking of scenes to the making of the

props and costumes, and always leaving the Drama Room open to learn lines (even at break time and

lunchtime!). But, we cannot forget the big night – our performance! It was wonderful to watch other

schools perform too and to see their interpretations of the plays. And even though you get nervous

about forgetting what scene you’re meant to be doing, or what line you’re meant to be saying, the

feeling when you are on that stage is fantastic. Overall, it was such a great experience and I am sothankful that we got the opportunity to take part in the festival