York, are you ready to rock? York Stage certainly are as they raise the roof at Grand Opera House York this week with the timeless family favourite School of Rock The Musical.
If you haven’t seen the 2003 classic by the same name, this musical follows the journey of down-and-out rocker Dewey Finn who as a last resort decides to steal his roommates identity and take on the taxing role of substitute teacher. This deceitfulness only grows as he decides to discard the rigorous prep school regime and replace it with an education in rock ‘n’ roll.
Faithful fans of the original movie will not be disappointed as the iconic references and music such as ‘Stick it to the Man’ and ‘School of Rock’ are brought to life superbly onstage.
School of Rock is at Grand Opera House York from Friday 13 to Saturday 21 September.
The entire company should be proud of the spectacle they’ve created, however in the words of my favourite number ‘I’ve got so much to say’ when it comes to our junior ensemble – the talent was simply electrifying!
Leading this enthusiastic entourage was our band, who shone under the musical direction of Stephen Hackshaw. This included Charlie Jewison as our fast-fingered guitarist Zack, Daniel Tomlin brought the cool to keys as Lawrence. Zack Denison was the perfect percussionist Freddie and Matilda Park as Katie gave a bass face even the most successful musicians would envy.
Without the initial announcement confirming they were playing live, truthfully, it may have been difficult for the audience to tell due to the astounding levels of talent on offer. The audience more than agreed as they erupted into endless applause after each showstopping song, and even the band and creative team watched on with enormous pride at these future stars.
Whilst the show was initially slow to burn, the stage was set alight at the entrance of these Horace Green students. For us this was Team Gibson, however, each and every pupil deserves their own special mention.
I can confidently say the future of musical theatre is in safe and extremely gifted hands. A honourable shout out must be made to our sassy stylist Billy, played by the charming Theo Rae, and of course, our feminist phenomenon Summer, a role excellently executed by Molly Thorne.
Finn East embodied the illustrious role of Dewey Finn, with mannerisms to rival Jack Black. He had excellent relationships with both the adult and child cast alike and I feel he particularly excelled during the classroom scenes where he gained top marks with his childish charm and comic timing. And there’s no bigger sign of a job well done than hearing ‘I wish he was my teacher’ declared unapologetically from an aspiring young rocker!
Amy Barrett and James Robert Ball provided excellent support as they showcased their tumultuous relationship as Ned Schneebly and Patty Di Marco, whilst Megan Waite was the prim and proper Principal Mullins with vocals as polished as her leadership.
As always with an opening performance there were noticeable technical issues which unfortunately led to some inaudible interactions, however, the entire cast still performed to the highest calibre despite these ongoing challenges.
The lighting rig created a battle atmosphere even before the band took their place to compete, which only heightened the stakes for these motivated musicians. You can always rely on York Stage to elevate the standard of amateur theatre – Briggs, Mullan-Hill and Hackshaw have continued to cement their long lasting local legacy.
Back to school has never felt so inviting; grab your tickets here to stick it to the man and join the band, at the School of Rock – playing until Saturday 21 September at Grand Opera House York.
Tickets start from £19 and are available online here.