PARENTS at Handcross Park School, Handcross, were treated to an evening's entertainment when year five and six students put on a musical show based on Shakespeare's The Tempest.
The children, aged between ten and 12, designed their own makeup, hair and costumes as well as contributing ideas for the set design.
The show opened with a musical number The Mighty Tempest. which used sound effects as well as stage smoke to sug
gest the sea, containing sinister green monsters eerily glowing as they dragged the hapless ship's crew overboard.
Later on, the audience was treated to musical numbers such as I'm A Miserable Monster featuring Caliban (played by Sophie Sole) and her group of hobgoblins. The show was narrated by Ariel (played by Rebecca Nielson) and her posse of spirits.
Proud parent Elizabeth Connolly said: "Particularly strong performances were given by Miranda (played by Bethany Lickiss) and Prospero (played by Fiona Andrews) who was almost unrecognisable in full beard, white hair and magician's costume.
"A powerful chorus of year-five students gave strong backing to the main characters and clearly demonstrated that the future is looking good for drama at Handcross Park School.
The beautifully sung last number It's All Over Now didn't leave a dry eye in the house with every child giving of their very best."
Grandmother Joan Stephens said: "This was a wonderful evening, the children clearly enjoyed performing the show and their confidence on stage was inspiring.
"It's so lovely to see children of that age enjoying Shakespeare and it has certainly inspired my granddaughter."
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