Please sir can we have some more
Pupils at Brampton Abbotts CE Primary ended the school year in true showbiz style. As well as taking part in dance workshops and suzuki violin concerts, they put on their own production of 'Fagin's Gang' - a play based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. This was an ambitious undertaking for the Key Stage 2 children, especially as the main characters had such complex songs to sing. With a week to go, directors Claire Lewis and Sara Herriott and Musical Director, Alan Durman were wondering whether this time, they had bitten off more than they could chew but, in true Brampton Abbotts style, the children rallied and some last minute rehearsals paid off. Many of the Year 5 and 6 children attend the after school drama club and were queueing up to take on the leading roles. Year 3 and 4 children sang their hearts out in the chorus and everyone from the main characters to the ensemble, from choir to scene shifters pulled together. The result was truly remarkable. Many of the parents, governors and friends said that they found it hard to believe that they were at a primary school production and left with tears in their eyes. Samantha Pritchard performed magnificently as big hearted Nancy and perfected the cockney accent to a tee. Her rendition of 'As Long As He Needs Me' rivalled anything the recent TV show had to offer. Zach Walters perfected innocence as Oliver, Ryan Jeffs played a very artful, Artful Dodger and Ollie Ruck was a very menacing Bill Sykes. Fin the dog managed not to disgrace himself as Bullseye but everyone agreed that it was Jack Wright's amazing performance as Fagin that stole the show. His rendition of 'Reviewing the Situation' was word perfect and brought the house down. Brampton Abbotts staff would like to thank everyone who helped in making this production so special, in particular Iris Price for helping put together the costumes.
• Ryan Jeffs as Dodger and Zach Walters as Oliver.
• Jack Wright as Fagin