On Thursday and Friday last week, Years 5 and 6 transported us to Neverland. They blew us away not only with their exceptional talents on stage, but also with their resilience in the hot weather! They were consummate professionals throughout and have been an absolute joy to work with as we have developed this production together.
Highlights of the show included, of course, the beautiful singing from the cast. Whether performing in harmony or in canon, they sang with captivating expression throughout. The sound these girls produce is truly unique: expressive, vibrant, and healthy. The vocal support from the Year 5 chorus was outstanding. A huge well done to all of the girls.
Learning the music was the very first stage of bringing this production to life. Back in January, the girls began learning the score for the show. Over the course of the year, these lessons evolved from learning melodies with good vocal technique to incorporating harmonies, multipart singing, precise timing, solo performances, and finally the addition of movement and choreography.
We are so fortunate to have such talented and imaginative dancers in Years 5 and 6. Much of the choreography was devised by the girls themselves during lesson time and was then shaped and compiled by Miss Faber, Miss Wakefield and me into the final routines. We are also incredibly grateful to Miss Phelan, who created the special routines for our Year 5 ballet dancers. The standard of movement and performance they demonstrated was truly exceptional.
I would like to say again what a pleasure it has been to work with this team of girls and staff on this production of Peter Pan. From the wonderful parents who generously gave their time to help with sets, hair and make-up, to the staff team who poured their heart and soul into often unseen tasks, from painting scenery to working backstage in the wings, this production has been a true team effort.
A special thank you must go to our Art and Facilities team, who always go the extra mile to support our productions. Their creativity and craftsmanship in constructing the larger set pieces added an extra touch of magic to the show. Working alongside Miss Faber, Miss Wakefield and Ms Van Kamp has been a genuine privilege and a dream come true; my sincere thanks go to them for making all of this possible.
Finally, thank you to the girls. It has been a very special way to bring our Francis Holland chapter to a close together. I wish you all the very best as you continue your performing journeys and move on to the exciting opportunities that await you. Your futures are incredibly bright.
Miss Houlder, Director of Music
“I liked Peter Pan because there was really incredible music and dancing which brought the show to life. The costumes were fabulous and so was the set. The way the characters flew made me really convinced I was watching from the clouds and below me was Neverland. I especially liked Smee, Mrs Darling, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. The Y6s played their parts so well.” Sage, Year 4
“I really enjoyed the play ‘Peter Pan’ because I liked the songs and the dances. My favourite character was Tinker Bell because I liked when she rang her bells! My favourite part was when they were singing ‘I’m Flying’! Lavinia, Year 4
“My favourite character was Tinker Bell because she was so glittery” Minty, Reception
“The best bit was when the Croc got Hook!” Luz, Year 1
