Hairspray is a Big Bouncy Bouffant of a Hit Show
Bright, colourful, energetic and uplifting was the Hove Park’s production of Hairspray. Full of upbeat, catchy songs, jaw-dropping dance moves and a wardrobe of vibrant costumes, make it a real stage spectacular which made you want to get up and out of your seat and dance along.
Jim Roberts, Headteacher said: “The students have put on absolutely fantastic show. An amazing performance which delivered the serious message of integration and understanding whilst remaining upbeat and full of joy. Well done to all involved - cast, crew and technicians. I felt like I'd had a night in the West End!”
The show is set in Baltimore in 1962 where, against the odds, overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad lands a role dancing on her favourite TV programme, The Corny Collins Show. She uses her new-found fame to fight for integration of black and white dancers on the show, putting her own future at risk for what she believes in.
Helen Davies, Chair of Governors said: "Wow! What a fabulous evening. So many talented young people, who had obviously put in many hours of rehearsals. And such dedication from the staff who were behind it all. It was so uplifting."
The production, directed by Drama Teacher, Ms Chloe Holt, was tightly polished, with brilliantly-slick choreographed numbers. There are also plenty of outstanding individual performances too.
Daisy Seaborne is a natural Tracy Turnblad. There’s a sparkling quality to her performance. Cate Bailey is wondrously villainous as Velma Von Tussle, producer of The Corny Collins Show, who will go to any lengths possible to see her daughter Amber (the vivacious Ruby Cooper) succeed.
Mya Dorman’s vocals are powerful and her performance is strong and sassy as Motormouth Maybelle who is the owner of the downtown record store and host of Negro Day. Alfie Jukes brings just the right mix of confidence, hesitancy and stereotypical jock to the part of Link.
Francesca Gibbs is outstanding in the comic yet touching role of Penny Lou Pingleton. Safwan Elaattaoui's energy and sharp wit brings the hip and hop together playing Seaweed J. Stubbs.
There are some brilliantly comic moments courtesy of Alex Scott who plays Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy’s father, and Alfie Martin as her mother Edna (the part is traditionally played by a man in drag).
The chorus vocals provide the pizazz and drive that really bring out the feel of the 60’s.
Mai Bolingbroke
Year 10
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Hove Park School students celebrate their GCSE results! The staff at the school would like to congratulate our students for the hard work that has seen so many achieve success in their GCSEs. They can now celebrate gaining the qualifications that will take them on to the next stage of their education at sixth form or college! Once again, the exam results of students at Hove Park School are in-line with the national average, with 67% of all grades marked as passes. Head teacher Jim Roberts praised the hard work of both the students and staff. He said: ‘I am very proud of the students and their achievements. They have shown incredible resilience and determination in navigating the challenges of the last few years. These results are a true reflection of student commitment to their studies, high-quality teaching and caring pastoral support. We wish them all the very best and look forward to hearing about all their future successes’ Brighton and Hove Secondary Headteachers are jointly celebrating the achievements of our students. We are thrilled to jointly celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students across Brighton and Hove. Through steadfast partnership and collaboration, our schools have collectively ensured that every child in our city has access to a high-quality education, enabling them to make significant progress. We take immense pride in the exam results this year, which reflect fantastic levels of attainment and achievement across all schools in Brighton and Hove. These results are a testament to the hard work and resilience of a brilliant group of students, as well as the unwavering commitment of our schools to joint practice development and collaborative efforts for the benefit of every young person in our city. The success of the 'Class of 2024' is a shared accomplishment, and we are extremely proud of each student. We wish them all the very best for their future endeavours and are confident that they will continue to thrive and excel.