What a thrill it was to once again enjoy the biennial spectacular that is the Burford School Broadway Musical. Despite the year-long postponement due to COVID, the audiences were not disappointed and the show – which took place over five nights plus a matinee – performed to sell out audiences throughout.
In celebration of the school’s 450th Anniversary, the Music Department had chosen Les Misérables for this year’s production and everyone stepped up to the challenge, pulling out all the stops and leaving the audience wanting more. Standing ovations were the norm throughout the week and praise from alumni, parents and the wider community who came along to watch could not have been higher; "Wow - what a show!" said one, while another remarked, "I was blown away by the absolutely amazing and brilliant talent that was on display!"
Several commented that the superb quality of the production far surpassed their expectations and that the cast were so talented. Many found it hard to believe that they were watching a school show and were transported to the West End by the quality of the performance and production.
For the 60 performers, the opportunity to perform to over 1,500 people was a fantastic experience and amply repaid them for the hours of practice and rehearsals which had begun in earnest in early January. The backstage crew, together with a wonderful group of volunteers, gained an insight into the staging of a major musical and learnt about lighting, sound, set construction and the complexities of costume from those businesses brought in to help.
Staging a major event of this kind brings with it a high level of cost, and the community came to the assistance of the school by donating items and experiences of great value when asked for donations. As a result, the school was able to run an online raffle and auction which drew in the whole community and gave everyone, and many beyond the school, a sense of involvement in the event.
Despite the enormous amount of work involved and the exhaustion once the clearing up had all been done, there is already a sense of excitement and anticipation as everyone eagerly awaits the announcement for what the musical of 2024 will be!
