Evening Of Broadway

 Commonweal’s Broadway Show held on Wednesday 24th June was a complete sell out! 140 musicians and dancers took part performing songs from famous Broadway shows.

 “This show addresses our community cohesion objectives and is a great way for our students to increase their confidence in performing. All skills learnt through performing arts are transferable to all areas of life in and beyond school,” Keith Defter, Headteacher.

 "We began planning for this event back in July 2008 after the success of Little Shop Of Horrors - our musical last year. We asked the students for their ideas and then tracked down the music and began rehearsing in March this year. It is no mean feat to pull together over 140 students and staff dancing and singing, but with the help of Louise Harman, head of dance, and Aniela Zylinski, music teacher we have done it! The show features music from stage and screen including Oliver, Joseph, Grease and Chicago and dance ranging from tap to ballet. We have particularly enjoyed rehearsing for the staff choir item 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend' and the evening was a huge success! " Ali Sutcliffe, head of music.

The school gave a free matinee performance on Wednesday 24th to 200 Yr 6 classes from the school’s feeder schools, Lethbridge, Even Swindon, Robert Le Kyng and King William Street. The youngsters clapped wildly and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, some  of which will undoubtedly  be in next year’s production.

During the year Ella Workman and Lauren Martin, both Yr 10 dancers  at Commonweal, ran an after school club at Lethbridge primary with 25 Yr  3,4 & 5 pupils. Both Ella and Lauren used to go to Lethbridge Primary School, so this was a great opportunity for them and also  supported their Dance Leaders Award which involves youth-lead dance in a feeder  primary school. The Lethbridge dancers performed a great routine at both the matinee and evening performance. “The girls have shown a tremendous amount of dedication and initiative and have run the club completely on their own. I am really proud of them,” commented Lousie Harman, head of dance.

 Sam Wearing, age 15, reports
I feel that the show went very well, but mainly because all of the performers worked together to make sure the show is a success. The best bit of the show is getting good feedback from the audience after the performance, and many enjoyed it! Being in front of the audience is the best part of being in a show like this! Every time I perform in a school production my confidence levels rise dramatically, mainly as I get positive feedback from my friends and family. I have taken part in six different performances in school so far, and I would definitely do it again! It’s a great experience, really exciting!