Students Celebrate New Theatre Company By Showcasing Talents

Our students celebrated the launch of their new theatre company, ‘Inspire’, by showcasing their singing, dancing and acting talents in the first of a series of performances to be held throughout the year.

Over one hundred students from Grace Academy Solihull auditioned to be part of the new theatre company designed to offer them specialist production and performance skills training, using experts from stage and screen.

Highlights from the show included the Academy’s band performing ‘Thinking Out Loud’, the choir performing ‘Forget You’ and ‘Just the Way You Are’, a vocal ensemble singing ‘Make You Feel My Love’, and a dramatic extract from ‘Blood Brothers’ performed by two Year 10 students.

Year 8 student, Aimee Denston, who took part in the first show, said:

“It was an amazing experience to be on stage, and something I definitely want to do more.  I was really proud that I was able to perform in front of others.”

Student Chloe Timmins, also in Year 8, said:

“It was brilliant to be directed by Year 12 students.  It was great to listen to how much they know and how creative their ideas were.  It was really inspiring.”

After a year of multiple showcases, students will get the chance to be recognised at ‘The Gracies’, the Academy’s own version of the Oscars due to be held for the first time at the end of the year.

Performing Arts Teacher Peter Willett, commented:

“This is a new initiative to empower as many students as possible to perform as frequently as possible, and experience what it’s like to be on stage in front of an audience.

“I was really proud of the fact that our first showcase was led by our students who took a huge amount of responsibility to put on a high calibre show in just five weeks.  This is a testament to just how good our Year 12 student directors, Sophie Perks and Sophie Sherrington, were.”

The inaugural black tie Oscar style event, ‘The Gracies’, will recognise the most exceptional moments throughout the year, with awards for Best Actor and Actress, the best song, the best devised performance, the best scripted performance and the best dance performance among other awards.