Great Dunmow school gears up for version of hit musical Fame

HELENA Romanes School is holding a series of events over the coming weeks, from celebrating the achievements of students to entertaining parents.

On Thursday December 10 the school will hold its annual GCSE certificates event. Pupils who took their exams in the summer will return to the school to see old friends and teachers and collect their official GCSE certificates.

During the afternoon, from around 2pm, a ceremony will take place to celebrate the achievements of the students including displays of work, performances and prizes and awards.

Christmas celebrations begin in earnest when the school choir, orchestra and several smaller ensembles perform festive music and other popular pieces during a dance and music concert on Tuesday December 15.

The evening begins at 7pm and mulled wine and minced pies will be served. Tickets are now available at the school.

To burn off that Christmas pudding and to entertain audiences of parents and friends the school will be producing a professional version of the hit musical Fame in January.

Preparations, auditions and rehearsals are already well underway for the run of shows beginning on Wednesday January 7.

The school will be producing the stage musical based on the original 1980 musical film Fame.

A school spokesman said: "The story of the dramatic lives of the performing arts students is entertaining, moving and full of energetic dance numbers and catchy songs.

"The musical has been significantly rewritten from previous adaptations, with an almost entirely new score."

The school's actors, artists, dancers, musicians and technicians are all working hard together in a bid to follow on from the success of previous productions - Schools Will Rock You! and Oliver.

Tickets are available from the school throughout December.