The lively audience waits patiently, bubbling with anticipation for the stage lights to mark the beginning of the show.
Luminous lights flash on, filling the Black Hole Theatre and making the audience so silent you could hear a bird squawking from a mile away. We had been waiting for this moment for 3 months, but it had felt like years.
As the music started and the stage began to fill with the young, passionate sixth form musical theatre students wearing sea-themed costumes with wonderfully bright colours, I looked to my left and saw my neighbour, staring, transfixed as she watched our best friend, Grace Rabey, performing her part as the beautiful Ariel.
Watching the performance on the 9th of February, I was fascinated to see the level of professionalism and dedication that the department illustrated, it was difficult to believe that this group had only been working together for 6 months.
The performers showed the mermaids swimming around the stage by each individual mermaid being pushed around on a wheelie chair. This was the perfect way of illustrating the high level of dedicated teamwork the group had put into the show. Although at first thought this sounds like an easy task, getting the mermaids to the right position, in time with the music and making this as seamless as possible so the swimming looked realistic for the audience, requires endless practice and determination.
The performance showcases cooperation between every actor’s skills magnificently. Grace Rabey, the actor that played Ariel tells me ‘Because I couldn’t act through speaking at points, (after Ariel sacrifices her voice for legs), it made me more versatile as an actor. Being the first time I had a lead role in a professional production, it made me push myself further and in doing this, I feel more confident in myself.’
A highlight of the performance for me was to see the creativity when it came to set and costume design, as the costumes and set were all made from rubbish. This put a spotlight on plastic pollution which, according to Condor Ferries, pollutes 88% of the sea’s surface. This creative choice was powerful as it politicised the performance and made what would be an innocent children's show, something more meaningful for the contemporary adult audience. As a young person it was inspiring to see students use a large element of the performance to bring awareness and communicate a global issue that sometimes seems like an overwhelming responsibility that is going to be passed down to our generation.
Watching the performers beam happily into the audience whilst singing at the top of their lungs, I feel uplifted as it is clear the actors themselves genuinely have fun whilst onstage. After the performance this feeling is reflected, I am surrounded by a warm community of proud family and friends that reminds me that the feeling of admiration I have for the production is not unique.
