TALENT and enthusiasm bubbled up in Calder High School's theatre yet again.
Showstoppers is an annual tradition that gives first-year GCSE drama students the experience to sing and dance in front of an audience – the first time for some. The packed theatre of friends and family enjoyed a cabaret-style atmosphere.
The theatre became a candlelit bar. Charming young men sold raffle tickets and a magician worked the tables.
Three dozen 15-year-olds made light work of a range of musical numbers, zinging with joyful energy. There were boisterous girls in the Moulin Rouge Can Can, cool boys in Grease Lightning and accomplished individual singing performances from sultry Zoe Cox, sophisticated David Burnip and other rising stars.
And all punctuated by a couple of affable comperes, some anarchic hilarity from Isaac Rose and his pirates, and a how-does-he-do-it magic trick from Johnny McQuade.
Not to mention Callum Paramour's steamy rendition of Big Spender… phew!
Thanks to the ever-expert support and inspiration of drama teachers Sam McAleese and Jill Leicester, the students put together a well-organised, delightful showcase with just the right balance of slick and rough-edged.
No wonder Jill Leicester's Expressive Arts department has just won an Arts Council Gold Award for commitment to the arts and outstanding teaching and extra-curricular provision.
Calder High's got talent!
Kerry McQuade