I like books better than mirrors. Mirrors only show us what we are. Books show us what we can be.”
- The Beast in Beauty and the Beast
Our hearts and minds were blown away last week by Clifton High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast; a spectacular performance of love, empathy, curiosity and direction – values that reflect the true spirit of our community.
Extending over three evenings from 5th to 7th March 2025, tickets were sold out months in advance of the show as families, friends, staff and community members looked forward with much anticipation to the evenings' entertainment. This is not surprising as year-upon-year, our pupils contine to exceed expectations in what they achieve on stage at the Redgrave Theatre.
Uniting the whole Senior School, with participating pupils aged from 11 to 18 years, in one play is a union that benefits all involved; children connect with other year groups, make longstanding friendships along the way and grow in personal confidence.
Beauty and the Beast is an adaptation of the 1757 story written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. It has since been made into several film versions, stage plays and introduced into the world of musical theatre by Disney. However, Clifton High School’s version is one that will go down in our history books. It retells the fairytale of a young price that was cast under a spell, being turned into a Beast, that could only be broken with true love. Discovering this love with Belle, through many ups and downs, she soon returns his love which ultimately breaks the spell. They live happily ever after!
On entering the Redgrave Theatre, we were immediately wowed by the sheer professionalism of the set and costumes alike. The pupil’s talent, energy and sheer exuberance unmatched in what the audience experienced throughout the entire performance. A story of love, acceptance and transformation, the true beauty of kindness shone through as our lead actors (both Year 10 pupils) Gemma (Belle) and Alessandro (the Beast) captivated us in their incredible creative artistry. Combined with other principal cast members, Les Fillles de la Ville and chorus members the stage was filled with awe-inspiring choreography and remarkable musical compositions and songs. It must have crossed the audience’s minds that singing and dancing in many of the over-sized costumes were a challenge for the actors. Yet, they each mastered skillful professionalism ensuring their ease was the only state of emotion portrayed.
A production of this calibre does not come together overnight; with auditions beginning in September 2024 and rehearsals commencing shortly afterwards, the collaborative efforts of the drama and music department, technical and sound support, set, costume and hair design did not escape our attention. Led by our new Head of Drama, Mrs Holly Adams, her debut production has set a high standard for years to come and we are truly grateful for her theatrical direction. In her own words, Holly tells us:
“It has been a wonderful journey working with such a dynamic and creative team and I am honoured to be part of this community. The commitment of the pupils has been incredible; long rehearsals and countless hours put in behind the scenes has all paid off and I am so proud. It has been really lovely to see our Senior School pupils thrive on stage and bring the characters to life in front of an audience. They are such a talented group and I look forward to working with them on the next production!”.
Mrs Holly Adams - Head of Drama & Production Director
As the cast took their final bows and the applause echoed throughout the Redgrave, we were all filled with a sense of joy and appreciation for what the children gave us in their performance. Congratulations!
Extended Thanks
With 60 cast members, plus invaluable band and production team members the involvement of so many individuals culminated in a show to remember. Warm thanks are extended to everyone involved, including instrumental and vocal teachers, our marketing team and the supportive staff at the Redgrave Theatre. We could not have done it without you!
Hear from the Cast Members
Oliver Edwards Photography
With thanks to Oliver Edwards for capturing the true spirit of our Beauty and the Beast production. To view this album of photographs, please click the button below:
