At Debden Park High School for performing arts, students have been waiting anxiously for the chance to audition for the school’s biennial “big production”.
It’s an exciting opportunity for students involved in drama, dance and music to showcase their talent to parents and members of the local community. This year, the production will be called “Dorothy”, and will illustrate Dorothy’s classic journey to find the Great Wizard, with a few interesting twists.
However, the auditions are very competitive. Students participate in workshops as opposed to auditioning for particular roles, as this ensures that everybody is given a fair chance to stand out.
However, while previously only students from the high school (year seven to year eleven) was allowed to try out, this year the auditions were open to sixth formers as well.
Some students have argued that this is unfair on the year tens and elevens, who are afraid of being outshined by the sixth formers, many of whom are studying drama, music or dance at A Level, whereas others feel it is only fair to allow the year twelves and thirteens a chance to perform too.
The auditions were very popular, with as many as two hundred students in attendance, most of whom seemed to enjoy the event immensely.
Macie Chandler, a year nine student, said “it was a really fun and interesting event. I liked how we acted as normal people but used the same personalities as the characters, and the dance was very creative but hard.”
The show is to be performed this summer, although the date is not set as of yet. Once the cast is decided and released on Friday 2nd February, rehearsals will begin in earnest as Debden Park prepares to wow us once again with another unique musical production.
Amelie Ashton, Debden Park High School
