Pantomime Production of Beauty and the Beast Delights Audiences

This year’s annual musical production was our pantomime version of Beauty and the Beast, which we performed over three nights and one matinee in December 2023.  
 
QEGS has a long tradition of musical productions, and recent years have proved no different. Drama teacher Kevin Watkins joined the staff team in 2017, and his experiences dancing and performing as a Butlins Redcoat and on Disney cruise ships soon became evident. Kevin has directed and choreographed a pantomime or musical production, in collaboration with the music department, every year since (except during Covid restrictions): The Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Cinderella, Chicago, and in December 2023, Beauty and the Beast.  
 
Open to all students in years 7 to 13, auditions were held in September with the performances taking place just before the Christmas break. Students worked tirelessly learning lines and dance numbers, and there was an amazing background team of students running backstage as well as the sound and lighting (we thank Lincolnshire Music Service for the loan of 16 headset microphones and full PA to make our sound production top quality). The Art and Technology departments, as always, supported by making and painting props and scenery, and this year we even hired a castle that took pride of place at the front of the hall and on the stage. It looked amazing! 
 
Our dame, Beck Fergie, was outstanding, capturing the comedic side of their role perfectly, and the Beast, Lilli Caraher, stunned the audience with two emotionally filled solos: ‘Why God Why’ from Miss Saigon and ‘I’ll Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’. Belle was played by two students, Freya Elias, who is hoping for a career in musical theatre, and Charlotte Evans, for whom this was her first lead role in a school show.  
 
The chorus joined for all the big numbers, and we even had our own Year 11 boy band singing and dancing to the Backstreet Boys. As is tradition in our school pantomimes, the ‘Music Man’ allows audience members to come on stage – whether it be keen young children or less keen teachers - everyone joins in enthusiastically before the show’s finale. We particularly enjoyed singing new words to the ‘Can Can’ describing Madame Renee's tea shop – and I wonder if anyone noticed just how many costume changes our Fairy Godmother had?!  
 
The talent of QEGS students never ceases to amaze, and the school’s reputation for high- quality music productions is ever-increasing. In June 2023, QEGS music department was awarded ‘Lincolnshire Secondary Music Department of the Year’ and Veronica Addis (Head of Music & Arts Faculty) attended the awards ceremony at Lincolnshire Show to collect the trophy. In addition, one of our year 13 students, Jessica Gates, won ‘Lincolnshire Young Musician of the Year’ at the same event.  Make sure you look out for the adverts in the next academic year and be sure to come and watch the next spectacular performance!