Shrewsbury School stars to perform in West End
When they took to the stage in Shrewsbury for a new musical, youngsters could not have imagined it would end up winning five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Festival and a slot in the West End of London.
When they took to the stage in Shrewsbury for a new musical, youngsters could not have imagined it would end up winning five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Festival and a slot in the West End of London.
But Shrewsbury School's musical What You Will has proved a massive success, including the glittering praise in Scotland.
And now the show is to be revived and taken to the capital with students from the school due to take to the stage for the performance at the Royal College of Music's Britten Theatre, based in the West End.
The theatre group will put on two performances at 3pm and 7pm on January 7.
What You Will is a musical reworking of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night.
During its run at the Edinburgh Festival in August this year it played to audiences of about 90 people each day, picking up rave reviews from The British Theatre Guide 2011 and The Stage magazine.
The British Theatre Guide described it as 'a production that oozed professionalism and was performed with energy and commitment' and 'a sheer delight'.
Senior Master at Shrewsbury School Peter Fanning, who also wrote the script for the play, said pupils were excited to perform it again.
He said: "We were thrilled to get such positive reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe this year and our pupils are very excited at the chance to perform in London – they are really looking forward to it.
"There is a superb company of 42 and they are all keen to go to the city for the additional performances. The Britten Theatre is just behind the Albert Hall – a wonderful place to perform."
Former pupil Robert Collins, who won a music scholarship to study at Berklee College in Boston in North America, is flying back especially to play the leading role of Count Orsino and Hebe Dickins, who plays Maria, is taking a break from her first year's training at the Bristol Old Vic Drama School to take part.
Others, who took their A-levels last summer, are making the journey back from gap years or from universities, travelling long distances to meet up with the company for the performances.
The Britten Theatre was opened in the West End in November 1986 to provide a launchpad for students at the Royal College of Music.
By Catherine Ferris
