Pupils hit the high notes in big sing at Telford theatre

The Big Sing brought 160 pupils from six primary schools together for the performance at Telford's Oakengates Theatre on Tuesday evening.

It was organised by The Arts Centre Telford (TACT), based in Ketley, and watched by an audience of more than 500 people in a sell-out show.

The schools taking part were Lilleshall Primary School; Tibberton C E Primary School near Newport; Newport Junior School; Moorfield Primary School in Newport; Castle House School in Chetwynd End and St Peter's CE Primary School in Edgmond.

Pupils spent the last school term preparing music for the two-hour performance.

Songs from musicals including Aladdin and Matilda were sung by a mass choir, who also performed pop songs and built up to a grand finale of Wings by Birdy.

Ross Doodson, company director of TACT, said: "We provided the schools that were involved with a music teacher for free for a morning or afternoon session every week this term. "We worked with year four and five children and we prepared them with vocal music to contribute to the event at Oakengates Theatre."

The 160 children were brought together at the theatre on Tuesday afternoon to rehearse for the big performance.

"We had the mass choir performing A Whole New World from Aladdin, When I Grow Up from Matilda the musical, but they also did Love Yourself by Justin Bieber and Roar by Katy Perry," Mr Doodson said.

"For the finale they did Wings by Birdy. We spoke to the children about which number they wanted to end on and they had enjoyed doing Wings the most.

"As well as the performances by pupils, there were also performances by students at TACT.

"We wanted to use it as a way to let parents know the paths their children can take to train professionally. There are year seven students who are already doing their musical theatre exams.

"We had staff members on hand to talk to any parents about the sorts of things they can get involved in."

Among the TACT students to perform at the show was Emily Rogers, 18, from Pattingham, who sang Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera and will soon be going to to study musical theatre at Arts Educational Schools in London.

Another soloist and TACT student was 12-year-old Olivia Lambert, who attends Idsall School in Shifnal, and sang Live Out Loud from A Little Princess.

Mr Doodson said: "It was about bringing together these six schools to be part of a fantastic music event.

"It was buzzing and the children were on stage for the whole evening.

"I know what's happening in terms of budgets being reduced for the arts but the fact that we provided teachers shows our commitment to push arts in the community.

"The children were amazing. They stepped up and pulled it out the bag.

"It was full of energy.

"We are going to go back into schools and look at how we can help them with aspirations in the arts in the future."

All pupils who took part in the performance will be offered a free place in TACT's choir for the summer term.

Sessions take place on Wednesday evenings and the choir performs at festivals and competitions.

TACT, based in Holyhead Road, Ketley, is a stage school and theatre company which offers singing, acting, dance and instrumental lessons.

It has about 250 students, aged from two upwards, and has been running since 2011.

For more information, visit www.theartscentretelford.com