Year 8 Perform Angels at the Ritz

This term’s stunning production of “Angels at the Ritz” has been the talk of Hazlegrove.

Our Year 8s pulled out all the stops, performing in front of the school during their dress rehearsal last Wednesday, and to family and friends on Thursday and Friday evening.

Greeted by cast members in 1940s costume, the audience was directed along our red carpet and into a theatre bedecked with props and set created by our very own Art and DT team. After enjoying a drink in the Bearcroft, the audience was ceremoniously welcomed back into the theatre by our cast, who marched through the school to the tune of “Colonel Bogey’s March”, played superbly by our Hazlegrove marching band.

As the evening progressed, the audience was led through the World War II years, from the haunting announcement of Neville Chamberlain to Winston Churchill’s victorious VE Day speech. Scenes were immediately familiar as children portrayed the lives of characters such as The Ritz guests, British evacuees, and London Blitz children to great effect. There were laughs and tears aplenty, with some incredibly mature performances that would not have been out of place on the West End stage.

The singing was sensational, with our fantastic Hazlegrove staff band supporting the children in numbers from Take That’s “The Flood” to Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night”. All songs were superbly choreographed, with teamwork and every one of our Hazlegrove values displayed by the children in abundance.

Our huge thanks go to all staff who helped create such an incredible production. Nothing is possible without their generous support.

…and if you do have a quiet moment during the long Summer Holidays, I urge to seek out the recording of “Angels at the Ritz” on our School Portal. This is Hazlegrove at its best!