Pupils at Christleton High School are on stage this week with a musical comedy version of the fairytale The Ugly Duckling.
Honk! opened last night (Wednesday) with the cast coming primarily from Years 7-9.
Having developed a reputation for high quality musical theatre productions including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oliver!, High School Musical and, most recently, We Will Rock You, the school now presenting two musicals every year.
Director Simon Phillips explained: “We had reached a point where over 120 students wanted to take part in the musical every year which is logistically difficult!
“We have an inclusive policy which means that no student is turned down and everyone gets into the show. So we have taken the decision to offer two musicals per year and give our younger talented students the opportunity to take on lead roles and hold a show together on their own.”
Honk! involves more than 100 students on-stage, backstage and in technical roles and is the second time Christleton High School have produced the show, following a run in 2008.
The story follows the fate of the main character Ugly as he gets bullied by other characters and eventually gets separated from his mother.
On his travels he meets a cat who wants to gobble him up, a domesticated chicken, a larger-than-life bullfrog and a squadron of army geese.
Honk! has also proven to be a good opportunity for the school to continue links it has made, in partnership with CWaC, with the SMILE Foster Carer Recruitment Campaign Local Carers for Local Children.
Numbers of foster families available in Chester are at a worryingly low level and the school is helping to raise awareness of this issue.
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer call 01244 972222 or visit www.smileadoptionandfostering.co.uk.
Honk! is running from June 25-28 at Christleton High School. Tickets are available from www.christletonhigh.co.uk.
