School’s festive play makes it to the final of top TV comp
A Larkhall primary school has been shortlisted as a finalist in a national TV competition which could see their festive play televised to the nation this Christmas.
Craigbank Primary could work with TV presenter, Stephen Mulhern, who will narrate the winner’s play in a oneoff performance, which will then be made available to four million Virgin TV customers, if they win the national competition.
The school has been shortlisted as a finalist and could win £5000 and some great prizes from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End show, School of Rock the Musical.
Craigbank Primary entered its festive play into the competition to find the UK’S best primary school play.
The school entered a Christmas play called The Innkeeper’s Breakfast.
It is about an innkeeper whose breakfast is more important to him than anything else.
One morning, as he sits down to eat his enormous breakfast, there is a knock after knock at the door and no end of interruptions, but he soon learns there is a very good reason for all the disruption.
In its entry, Craigbank Primary said it deserved to win because: “We are so proud of them all [the pupils] and we would love to share their enthusiasm and excitement at performing. We are a small school with a low socio-economic status, with close community and parental connections.
“Every child is involved and will be on the stage at some point.
“Our plays are always a community event, with pensioners receiving a personal invite and we receive fantastic parental support.
“We have a supply of costumes that we adapt for our plays, and children are involved in making any additional props or scenery for the stage.
“To say we had been chosen would be fantastic, what an amazing memory this would be valuing and celebrating them.”
As well as being shortlisted to have its Christmas play televised on Virgin TV, youngsters from the school are also guaranteed to win a prize.
A class from Craigbank will be invited to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London for an electric, rip-roaring performance masterclass from the cast of School of Rock the Musical.
Afterwards, the children will also be treated to tickets to watch the show and see the talented cast in action.
To keep the Christmas spirit going, School of Rock the Musical will generously give the winning school 10 ukuleles so they can strum their way into 2020.
David Bouchier, chief digital entertainment officer at Virgin Media, said: “A huge congratulations to
Larkhall’s Craigbank Primary School for being named as a finalist in our magical Christmas Stars competition.
“Its production has the perfect ingredients for a feel-good festive play which could be enjoyed by millions of Virgin TV customers this Christmas.
“Stay tuned to find out who will be our winner – good luck everyone at Craigbank!”