SCHOOL NEWS: You gotta be big to think big and Hairspray’s been a MASSIVE success for Preston

TALENTED students at Preston School in Yeovil must still be buzzing after delighting audiences with their amazing 2017 musical production – the ever-popular fun-packed Hairspray.

The feel-good show – performed on February 8-9, 2017 - was filled with song, dance, humour, sadness, great costumes and huge enthusiasm of a cast of nearly 50 young people.

The story centres around Tracy Turnblad who sets her heart on becoming a TV star by auditioning for the Corny Collins Show and then using her new-found fame to fight for equality.

The lead role was excellently portrayed by the effervescent talent of Anastacia Hayward – remember the name for future showbiz success (you read it here first!) – and it was as if the character was made for her.

PHOTO - TOP: Anastacia Hayward is held aloft at the finale of Hairspray as Tracy Turnblad.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Ryan Farrand as Edna Turnblad.

She sang and danced and acted her way through the show from start to finish with aplomb and looked as if she was having the time of her life.

But a great show needs a great cast and Anastacia was backed by a super team.

Special mention must go to Ryan Farrand who took on the role of Tracy’s mum Edna Turnblad – the female role which has always been performed by a male dressed in drag. Ryan was excellent and got some big laughs with witty one-liners and expressions.

His relationship with on-stage daughter Tracy and husband Wilbur Turnblad (Brandon Rackliffe) was super. The duet between Ryan and Brandon – Timeless to Me – in the second-half of the show was a highlight.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Some of those who made up the all-important chorus.

The talented Jacob Edwards also did well as Corny Collins with some intricate dialogue and did not get a word wrong.

There was another fantastic performance from Pippa Strickland as Motormouth Maybelle – 12 months on after stealing the show in Preston’s 2016 production of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street as the pie shop owner Mrs Lovett.

Her solo of I Know Where I’ve Been was brilliant and seemed to mesmerise the audience. She graces the stage with ease, but her presence is enormous and – along with Anastacia – is a fine Preston theatrical talent.

We could go on and on and name all of the cast individually and comment on their contributions to the show, but this report would turn into a novel rather than a story, but safe to say each and every one of them can take a well-deserved bow. (A full cast list appears at the end of this report).

PHOTO - RIGHT: Jacob Edwards as Corny Collins.

The show has a number of well-known and catchy songs such as Good Morning Baltimore, Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now, Welcome to the Sixties, Big Blonde and Beautiful, and You Can’t Stop the Beat.

The performers were backed – for the first time – by a live band under musical director Liz Hughes. And, wow, what another young musical talent Preston has on its hands with Year Seven student Joe Ockrim who was so assured on drums.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Pippa Strickland as Motormouth Maybelle.

Show director, drama teacher Kayleigh Plomer, who is heavily pregnant, was positively bursting with pride at the end of the production and could not speak highly enough of her students who had put in a lot of time and effort to bring Hairspray alive.

“Once again we have been blessed with highly committed, enthusiastic and talented students who have made creating this performance one of the highlights of the school year,” she said in the show programme.

“Of course, the extra challenge that we faced this year is the impending arrival of my very own show baby. I needn’t have had any worries or concerns about taking on too much as the students have been simply fantastic often reminding me to sit down, stop trying to play seven different roles and above all not to get too stressed.”

Preston principal Gregg Morrison congratulated everyone involved in putting on a show that the whole school could be proud of. To be fair – it was a credit to the whole of Yeovil.

CAST: Tracy Turnblad, Anastacia Hayward; Edna Turnblad, Ryan Farrand; Link Larkin, Joe Heaton; Corny Collins, Jacob Edwards; Seaweed J. Stubbs, Kris Bracey; Penny Pingleton, Josie Farrant; Wilbur Turnblad, Brandon Rackliffe; Motormouth Maybelle, Pippa Strickland; Velma Von Tussel, Charlotte Ryan; Amber Von Tussel, Grace Pryor; Lil Inez, Gracie Marles; Prudy, Amara Baker; Mrs Pinky, Jasmine Boniface; Gym Teacher, Megan Rogers; Harriman F. Spritzer, Molly Frost; Matron, Abi Berritt/Charlotte Harries; Gilbert, Abi Huttel; Stooie, Mackenzie Passmore; Cindy Watkins, Molly Fenner; Lorraine, Amanda Johnson; Duane, Leah Read; Thad, Tom Clark; Principal, Caitlin Hackett; Principal’s PA, India Courtenay.

Council Members: Tammy, Katie Tibble; Brad, Vini Lloyd; Fender, Ryan Chick; Brenda, Charlotte Morgan/Jasmine Tibble; Sketch, Max French; Shelley, Georgia Vincent/Sophie Gates; IQ, Jake Hunter; Lou Ann, Courtney Terry/Lily Keen.

The Dynamites: Judine, Darcie Studley; Kamilah, Megan Passmore; Shayna, Molly Mackenzie.

Ensemble: Student, Daisy Shire; Student, Tia Cousins; Student, Danielle Shead; Special Ed, Alice Baker; Special Ed, Maisy Helyar; Party Girl, Chloe Courtenay; Party Girl, Evie Brown; Party Girl, Laura Hampson; Beatnik Chick, Katelyn Waddleton; Guard, Megan Rogers.

CREW: Band: Musical Director, Mrs Hughes; Keys, Matt Holmes; Guitar, Joe Swainson; Bass, Ian Rendall; Drums, Joe Ockrim.

Audio Team: Lance Purdy, Bronwen Price, Zoe Carpenter, Jaime Carpenter, Percy Garrett, Jay Ambriozak, Nick Sidhuna, Adam Buttle.

Backstage: Emily White, Miss Sampson, Mr Moise, Miss Emslie, Ms Daulton, Issy Goodwin, Mrs McMeakin, Sarah Lowery.

Special Thanks: Nick Chapple; Year Ten Students; Mrs Hughes; Mrs Daulton; Courtney Terry; Will Hallett; Christian Blundon; Pete Blundon; Audio Team; Susanna Daulton; Clara Macdonald; Jane Helyar.

More photos from Hairspray can be found in these eight picture galleries. If anyone would like copies of the photos – for more details and prices please contact Yeovil Press by emailing yeovilpress@gmail.com or photographer Christine Jones by emailing christine.jones33@googlemail.com .

Preston School’s Hairspray Photo Gallery Part One - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-1-feb-2017/ .

Preston School’s Hairspray Photo Gallery Part Two - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-2-feb-2017/ .

Preston School’s Hairspray Photo Gallery Part Three - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-3-feb-2017/ .

Preston School’s Hairspray Photo Gallery Part Four - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-4-feb-2017/ .

Preston School’s Hairspray Photo Gallery Part Five - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-5-feb-2017/ .

Preston School’s Hairspray Photo Gallery Part Six - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-6-feb-2017/ .

Preston School’s Hairspray Photo Gallery Part Seven - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-7-feb-2017/ .

Hairspray Photo Gallery Part Eight - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2017/02/10/hairspray-at-preston-school-pt-8-feb-2017/ .

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