West Berkshire schools and clubs performance showcase raises incredible £5.5K for Mary Hare Foundation

For the second year running, The Nicola Moran Academy of Drama presented ‘Ignite The Stage’ , the performance showcase for West Berkshire schools and clubs, to a sold out audience at Arlington Arts, and raised close to £,5,500 for the Mary Hare Foundation from ticket sales, programmes and raffle tickets.

An audience of more than two-hundred theatre-goers including the Mayor of Thatcham, Suzanne Adamantos, enjoyed 26 tantalising performances that spanned dance, contemporary and classical, drama, musical theatre and live band music.

A host of West Berkshire schools and performance clubs, that included St Finian’s School ‘Glee Club’, The Nicola Moran Academy of Drama, Maia Hendrickx Vocal Studios, Allenova School of Dancing, The Elibah School of Dance, Kennet School’s Encore Dance Company and Psyco Dance Company, St Gabriel’s School, St Bartholomew’s School, The ‘Eggs Benedict’ band from The Downs School, Trinity School and Mary Hare School all participated.

The standards were high with several performers cast locally for The Watermill theatre and Corn Exchange shows, and another attends the Guildhall School of Acting Junior Conservatoire, The National Youth Music Theatre, the ArtsEd Drama School. Choreography was supplied a student the Central School of Ballet and a finalist from Young Berkshire Singer of The Year.

Nicola Moran, the founder of Ignite The Stage, said on the night: “Bringing together so much diverse local talent, energy and creativity under one roof is thrilling. For many pupils, it is their first experience of working within a professional theatre setting with lighting, sound and stage crews and for others it presents the chance to share their well honed craft to raise funds for the Mary Hare School, the largest residential school for deaf and young children in the country.

“I have to thank our hosts, the Arthington Arts Centre, their entire team, who helped to make this a memorable night for so many.”

Thatcham mayor Suzanne Adamantos closed the evening, highlighting the importance of performing arts in building creativity, confidence, resilience and dedication amongst local schools and clubs and thanked the local teachers and coaches. whose drive and passion nurtures local talent. She also mentioned that she had immediately booked one of the acts that evening for another local event.

The total raised for the Mary Hare Foundation and School was £5,444.85

Cast and acts:

1. St Finian’s Catholic Primary School Glee Club – When Your’e An Addams from The Addams Family.

2. Mary Hare School – Boys Dance – Aylo by Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

3. Nicola Moran Academy of Drama – Lucie Hopkins-McQuillan Lost in the Brass from Band Geeks.

4. St Bartholomew’s School – Year 12 BTEC students – Dawn.

5. St.Gabriel’s School – Eden Simpson Hughes, Helena Bunce and Isabella Bessiron - I Know It’s Today from Shrek The Musical.

6. Kennet School – Psyco Dance Company – Lost Without You.

7. Maia Hendrickx Vocal Studios – Lexia Whitter – Blow, Gabriel, Blow from Anything Goes.

8. Mary Hare School – Darcy Gustafson and Harry Freestone – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time with music from Sweden by C418.

9. Nicola Moran Academy of Drama – Olivia Hodgson and Bella Moran - Three Bedroom House from Bat Boy: The Musical.

10. Elibah School of Dance – Get This Party Started.

11. St Bartholomew’s School – Amy Oliver and Annabella Prowse – I Move On from Chicago.

12. Allenova School of Dancing – Giselle Bruce and Harri Hayes – Homeless.

13. The Downs School – Eggs Benedict – ‘Die with a Smile’ by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars; ‘The Perfect Pair’ by Beabadoobee; and ‘It Runs Through Me’ by Tom Misch.

14. St Finian’s Catholic Primary School Glee Club – Revolting Children from Matilda The Musical.

15. Nicola Moran Academy of Drama – Issy Anns I Love Play Rehearsal from Be More Chill.

16. Kennet School – Encore Dance Company – The Greatest Show.

17. St Gabriel’s School – Danielle Wilcock – The Birds. A Modern Adaption by Don Zolidis.

18. Allenova School of Dancing – Never Enough.

19. Nicola Moran Academy of Drama – Ellie Anns, Issy Anns, Olivia Hodgson and Bella Moran – A Lovely Night from Cinderella.

20. Mary Hare School – Dance Duet – Bailey Paul-Martin and Sophie Mernagh – 1,2,1,2 by George the Poet.

21. Maia Hendrickx Vocal Studios – Lilly Bertoni – The Ballad of Jane Doe from Ride the Cyclone.

22. St Bartholomew’s School - Year 13 BTEC students – Clowns.

23. Elibah School of Dance – Black and Gold.

24. Nicola Moran Academy of Drama – Olivia Hodgson – Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie.

25. Allenova School of Dancing – Harri Hayes – Always.

26. St Finian’s Catholic Primary School Glee Club – When I Get My Name in Lights from The Boy From Oz.