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Theatre group and school pupils join forces for special stage production
FORGET the Stateside slickness of West Side Story - pupils from a Sheffield secondary are bringing the Brightside Story to a stage near you.
The production showing at Firth Park Community Arts College this week is a groundbreaking collaboration between pupils and a community theatre group based at the school.
The show features some of the same themes of its famous Broadway predecessor - love, hate, passion and gang rivalries.
But the input from the theatre group, which has members aged from five to 59, will make the performance very different from the usual school production.
"As a specialist school for the performing arts, we've been working with our community theatre group for the last two years," said headteacher Mo Laycock.
"We believe the show to be a first for any Sheffield school - and none of the adults involved have ever acted, sung, performed or danced in front of a paying audience before.
"They appeared in an event for friends and family last year but the move to a public performance with costumes, sets and lighting is a massive leap forward," Mo said.
"Their dedication, passion, determination and support for one another and the clear progress in relation to their drama, singing and dancing skills is a joy to behold."
The theatre group meets once a week on Wednesday evenings and Brightside Story has been directed by staff members Helen Marshall-Serano and Tom Hull.
"We have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins of students in our school in the group as well as primary and secondary aged pupils," Helen said.
"We are looking forward to some fantastic shows that we're sure people will enjoy."
There are two shows at the college on May 6 and 7, beginning at 7pm.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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