Year 8 Shine in Spectacular Production
Our Year 8 production of ‘Emil and the Detectives’ lit up the school theatre with a high level of ambition, creativity and technical mastery rarely seen in a school production. The show was a true celebration of teamwork and innovation, combining nearly 600 projection-mapped visuals, cinematic special effects and a fully realised train set piece created by a professional film set team.
Supporting the performance was a bespoke musical score curated by Karl Leutfeld, whose work brought a rich, filmic atmosphere to the production. His custom composed music brought to life the tension, humour and adventure of Emil’s journey, elevating the performance to a professional standard.
In the weeks leading up to the show, our Performing Arts department and specialist technicians, Rob Shaw and Sidni Brener, dedicated countless evenings and weekends to ensuring every detail ran seamlessly; every projection cue, technical effect, prop and set transition. Their expertise helped transform a complex creative vision into an unforgettable experience for the audience.
The costumes were incredible, taking us back to 1920’s Germany. They were meticulously sourced and tailored for each boy by Noami McLaren and her fantastic team of Year 8 parent helpers. This attention to detail helped transport us back in time.
Our Year 8 boys demonstrated remarkable talent and commitment throughout the process. Not only did they deliver strong performances on stage, but many also contributed behind the scenes; building props, constructing set pieces and running elements of backstage operation. A newly formed student social media team worked with our marketing department to support the publicity of the production, showcasing impressive creativity and professionalism. This gave the boys a valuable insight into what it’s like to work in a Theatre Company.
The result was a vibrant, polished and imaginative performance that exceeded all expectations. An all-round success made possible by the combined efforts of pupils, staff, parents and specialist technical teams.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved for bringing magic to the stage and making this production such a standout moment in our school year.
