Enthralling performances by young people

Sir, - I was lucky enough to recently attend not one but two of the current productions by Dundee Schools Music Theatre; Barnum at the Dundee Rep and Starlight Express at the Gardyne Theatre.

Both shows were performed with such skill and enthusiasm by the young people involved, 70 in all in Starlight Express and a cast of 50 in Barnum and both had me enthralled from beginning to end.

I was amazed to see the highly professional performances of the young people which required them to learn many new skills including juggling and tightrope walking in Barnum and roller skating in Starlight Express, not to mention the wonderful singing and synchronised dance movements.

Above all, the joy experienced by the whole cast was communicated to the audience with standing ovations at the end of both performances.

What a wonderful opportunity for these young people to participate in these productions, to experience the annual residential week at St Andrew’s University during the last week of the summer and to achieve a performance of which they probably never believed themselves capable.

Dundee and Angus should be truly grateful to Dundee Schools Music Theatre, supported by Dundee City Council, the Leng Trust and Dundee and Angus College, for all they have achieved in the last 17 years and hopefully Lina Waghorn and her production team will be able to continue this dedicated commitment to the development of young people for many years to come. Georgiana Osborne. Lord-Lieutenant of Angus.

Picture: Kim Cessford Dundee Schools Music Theatre in its final rehearsals for Barnum.