'Hairspray!'

The week beginning Monday 22nd January saw Grosvenor stage its annual whole-school Drama Production, performing ‘Hairspray!’ to almost 2000 audience members over four entertaining and action-packed performances.

Under the leadership of Director Mrs Young and Musical Director Mr Arnold, this year’s cast and crew, comprising in excess of one hundred and thirty pupils from Years Eight to Fourteen, combined to deliver a vibrant and entertaining take on the famous production. Set during the 1950s, main protagonist Tracy Turnblad has only one desire – to dance on the popular "Corny Collins Show." When her dream comes true, she is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob, Link Larkin, and make an old-dated TV network realise that the world doesn’t need to be separated in to ‘pink’ and ‘blue’….. all without denting her 'do!

Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd January saw the cast deliver matinée performances to visiting Primary School children in the William Moles Hall, while on the evenings of Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th the show was staged in front of two sell out audiences, comprising paying members and associates of the School community. The production saw a number of acclaimed performances delivered by lead actors Maddie Gribbon (Tracy), Oliver Gray (Link), Amy Patton (Penny), Evan Morrison (Seaweed), Aaron Fisher (Edna) and Henry McCrea (Wilber).

In addition, further impressive performances were delivered by Eva Hamilton (Amber), Rachel Scott (Velma), Elijah Moffett (Corny Collins), Evie Bovill (Miss Motor Mouth), Nadia Sarvasova (Little Inez), Megan Ashfield (Purdy), Daniel Major (Spritzer), Reuben Magill (Duane), Katie Smyth (Lorraine), Charlie Adams (Mr Pinkie), Georgia Uprichard (Nancy) and Rory Thompson (Guard Gary).

Furthermore, the show’s acting leads were ably supported by a large and enthusiastic supporting cast, making up ‘The Nicest Kids’, ‘The Supremes and the Dynamintes’, and ‘Detention Crew and Councillettes’. So too, such an impressive series of performances would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Backstage Crew, the Lighting and Sound Crews, the Set Design team as well as a talented band of musicians, who delivered the show’s distinctive score with energy and expertise throughout.

Following four accomplished, professional and entertaining performances, all in attendance were left wowed by the level of application and effort which enabled Grosvenor’s cast to produce such a superb series of performances. In recent times the school has deservedly earned a name for delivering musical drama productions of the highest quality and ‘Hairspray!’ served only to further enhance this reputation.

Congratulations to everybody involved in Grosvenor’s production of ‘Hairspray!’ who helped to make the show such an overwhelming success - we look forward to seeing many of its talented actors and actresses treading the boards again next year.