It’s the Everest of musicals and Queen’s College has hit the heights with its production of ‘Les Miserables’ this week.
With a cast and crew of over 70 students aged 11 to 17, this was an epic production and audiences fell in love once again with the show that has been voted the world’s most popular musical. Director of Performing Arts, Ian Trafford, breathed a huge sigh of relief when the show opened: ‘ It’s a massive story, with so many technical demands- we have a huge barricade that comes in from both sides of the stage, locks together and then revolves- every night there’s a chance it might not work. But more impressive than the epic production is the enormous amount of hard work our students have put in to make this a memorable show, and the wonderful bonds they have made over the course of rehearsals and performances. It’s the kind of experience you never forget.”
Queen’s College has a formidable reputation for its performing arts programme, and this year students from across the whole age range have already staged ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Monkey King!’, whilst the season continues with ‘The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe’ and ‘Sixty’- all before the Summer holidays!
Musical director Cicely Wills admits, though, it will be hard to top ‘Les Mis’: “How do you beat five shows and five standing ovations?”