Willy Wonka is coming to Darwin!
Haileybury Rendall School is alive with the sound of music as preparations for the grand production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are in full swing .
Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Oompa Loompas and all the other colourful characters that feature in the Roald Dahl classic have temporarily joined the Haileybury Rendall School community.
Since April, rehearsals have been in full swing for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – the new musical, with the opening night on Friday, 13 September at Darwin Entertainment Centre promising to be a true spectacle.
More than 130 hours of rehearsals, a professional designer, a full orchestra and around 100 students from Years 5 to 12 have been involved in the production in a variety of roles both on and off stage.
The musical is an opportunity to showcase the acting, singing, dancing and musical talents of the young cast, and the creativity and handiwork of the students behind the scenes who have managed to recreate the wacky world of Willy Wonka on stage.
“Many Middle School students have made outstanding props and scenery under the expert tutelage of our Visual Art staff, and our Senior School Prefects will provide support backstage on the production nights.”Felicity Pearson, HRS Deputy Principal
“Our Boarders are involved on-stage and backstage, and we have nine students playing in the orchestra. This musical is a major undertaking with many moving parts but it showcases how far the culture of performance has come at HRS and how much outstanding talent has developed within the school.”
From the moment the curtain goes up, the musical promises to amaze the audience with the recreation of Willy Wonka’s chocolate world, dancing squirrels, a TV room with the ability to ‘shrink’ things and even a Great Glass Elevator.
The professionalism and creativity bringing the story of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka to life on stage illustrate the depth of the Performing Arts program at HRS. Performing Arts is offered all the way through school with Music offered from ELC to Year 12 and there is even a band room in boarding where students make their own music and perform karaoke.
“Drama is offered to students from Transition to Year 12 and Dance is offered in the Middle School. Throughout the year there are also House singing sessions, lunchtime drama performances, Cushion Concerts, recitals and VCE Drama performances.”Felicity Pearson, HRS Deputy Principal
“We’re also involved in Anzac Day performances, local festivals and Christmas concerts. We’ve deliberately built a culture of Performing Arts to ensure students receive a holistic education. They can explore, make, create and express themselves in different ways and that’s important in forming your identity and learning about yourself.
“The Performing Arts allow young people to explore ideas and concepts in non-threatening ways and they also learn to problem-solve, to explore emotions and to think more deeply.”
Mark (Year 11) is studying VCE Music Performance and Drama and plays the piano, trombone and flute. He plays piano at school assemblies and is a member of the School Orchestra. Since April when rehearsals began, Mark has also featured in the orchestra for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
“Last year I was the lead character in our musical, which was High School Musical. I had to sing for the first time so had private vocal lessons to get ready for the role and I had to learn to dance,” he says.
“Being in the orchestra for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a highlight as we are being exposed to working with professional musicians and that motivates me to improve. I really enjoy performing in public and HRS has so many opportunities for public performance — it’s a great way to challenge myself to be better. There’s great support and mentoring and the teachers are great.”
For now, the focus is firmly on bringing the musical extravaganza to the stage in Darwin and there is a lot of excitement, last-minute preparations and a few nerves.
When the curtain does close on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the young dancers, actors, musicians and backstage creatives at HRS will continue to pursue their passion for the Performing Arts with plenty of other performances and events on the calendar until the end of the school year.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be held on Friday, 13 September at 7.00 pm and on Saturday, 14 September at 1.00 pm and 7.00 pm.
Tickets can be purchased here.
