Berkhamsted in the spotlight! Pupils shine in House Performing Arts Competition

It’s not every day you’d see ABBA, the Spice Girls, Oasis or Queen grace the stage of Berkhamsted’s Centenary Theatre, but these famous bands were brought to life – and more – at this year’s House Performing Arts Competition.

Berkhamsted Girls were the first to perform and the morning cobwebs were certainly shaken away as soon as pupils entered the theatre. Welcomed by dazzling lights and a booming sound system, the audience quickly got into the theatrical spirit by singing along to pop classics while waiting for the show to begin. Once the competition was officially ‘launched’ in further theatrical spectacle, pupils were introduced to their guest judge: actor and LAMDA alumni George Rainsford.

George has appeared in ‘Casualty’ and ‘Call the Midwife’ as well as in films and on the stage. Having just returned from touring ‘2:22 A Ghost Story’, his words of advice to pupils were to embrace nerves and use them to your advantage. He also highlighted the importance of working together as a group, particularly in ensemble pieces like those about to be delivered by each House. Finally, he reminded everyone to ‘enjoy it!’

As the competition commenced, it was immediately clear just how much time and effort had been dedicated to choreographing and rehearsing each piece. Every House performed a medley of songs – from Dua Lipa to the Spice Girls – accompanied by elaborate dance moves and staging. The fantastic costumes and humorous opening introductions only added to the entertainment! Every pupil performed their hearts out and it was clear from the beaming smiles that they had taken on George’s advice and were having a lot of fun.

During the afternoon, Berkhamsted Boys took to the stage with a varied range of performances – from ensemble band pieces to devised drama. Each House performed one piece all together, followed by a piece showcasing a few brave and talented individuals. Just as in the morning, there was no shortage of entertainment, with House mascots ensuring the audience was cheering for each performer. Minions, School of Rock, Oasis and buzzing bees were just a few of the creative themes for the House ensembles.

The competition truly celebrated House camaraderie and showcased the range of talent here at Berkhamsted. While the winning Houses – Old Stede (Girls) and Cox’s (Boys) for best technical elements and Stephenson (Girls) and Bees (Boys) for best overall performance – can be very proud of their achievement, every pupil contributed to making the day a vibrant and memorable celebration of the performing arts.

A special mention must also go to the individual performances that accompanied the competition. From dance to musical theatre, duets, solos and instrumental pieces, the musical talent of our pupils is outstanding, as is the desire to Be Adventurous and perform in front of their peers.

What a fantastic day of theatrical fun!