Alway House’S Performance Of The Lion King Is A Roaring Success!

This year Christ College Brecon became one of the first schools in the UK to perform the Disney Junior version of ‘The Lion King’. Alway House, Christ College’s House for Year 7 and 8 boys and girls, tackled this classic story with great energy in a visual and aural spectacular. The performance included African Drumming, stunning Masks created by the Christ College’s Art and Design departments and a mix of the well-known songs such as ‘Can you Feel the Love Tonight?‘ and African songs and chanting.

The double cast of 64 students performed four shows over a two-day period. This included performances to local primary schools and Ysgol Penmaes as well as two public performances on the Friday and Saturday evenings to sell-out audiences. The show included ten full-size masks, three puppets, eight flying birds and twenty African drummers as well as a set which encapsulated Pride Rock and a rising sun to greet the birth of baby Simba. The colourful costumes supplied by Ribbons Dance Classes helped to create the warmth of Africa on the Y Neuadd Goffa stage.

Head of Creative Arts and Director, John Johnson, was delighted with the show which many have hailed as one of the all-time great Alway productions. Mr Johnson hailed the effort of so many different aspects of the school: ‘This production was a true example of what can be created when human beings collaborate. Our Head of Art, Deirdre Houghton, created beautiful masks and puppets, our Head of Photography, Paul Edgley, helped to create props as well as photographing the show. David Grant, our Chemistry teacher helped to light the show in his last year after running the technical aspects of 42 shows at Christ College. Once you combine this with the fantastic singing and acting along with brilliant African Drumming and expressive costumes and stage make-up the result was always going to be something special.‘

The Creative Arts team will begin work on ‘Grease!’ the next Senior production, with auditions to be held in September. Once the dust has settled from the Lion King and ‘Circle of Life’, no doubt ‘Summer Nights’ will become the song that everyone is singing!