The annual Rye College Christmas show took place on Thursday, December 12. Our Press Club at the college look back at a memorable evening.
We shuffled through the door at ten past six and were immediately greeted by the eagerly waiting front of the house, the student leadership team, who helped us to our seats with grins and tips on how to endure the opening speech. Tickets, in aid of the summer performance, were sold out months in advance and the venue was packed: full of parents and friends and cousins and nans all eagerly awaiting. The atmosphere was electric. As curtain call drew near the lights dimmed and a hush fell over the audience, we quickly took our seats munching on mince pies and flicking a last glance at the programme.
The show opened with a fire safety briefing (if you know you know) and a beautiful piano piece from Cecily followed by a duet of “waltzing dustily” with Dusty. It was Dusty’s first time performing with the double base, but she didn’t disappoint and neither did any of the other music students whose amazing performances left us buzzing with the Christmas spirit, especially the final medley from the music teachers incorporating violin, double bass and the best Christmas classics.
Next came the first junior drama piece and immediately the tone shifted to the middle of a fight and then a Greek tragedy, their clean transitions and direct audience address pulled me out of my seat and into the performance. As did the year 9 drama performances written and produced completely by the pupils. The first, an insight into a comedic Christmas catastrophe which cut just a little too close to home, and the second, a Cluedo-esque murder mystery with a plot twist no-one saw coming.
The drama led into the year 10s GCSE dance – all their dances were incredibly choreographed, but, so my dance-educated sister has informed me, the use of suspense and leg lines was what really stood out, as well as their sharp lifts and incredible acro work which left me and the rest of the audience in awe.
We dipped back into music for a violin solo from Hannah which was beautiful but she was, as she confided in me, “really really nervous” going into it because of some backstage drama. “My violin string broke and I didn’t think I’d be able to perform, luckily my violin teacher lent me hers but even then I was still terrified because her violin was so different to mine.” Thankfully it all came together in the end and Hannah’s performance was one of the highlights of the show.
We ended the first act on a high with a war dance from the junior dance company where poor Ethan was sacrificed. When asked what he thought of the experience he said: “Being pretty short I really enjoyed being lifted above everyone else as it made me feel tall for a change. We practiced it so many times before.”
I spent the interval chatting with front of house team seeing how much shortbread is too much shortbread whilst bobbing along to the Christmas music. The atmosphere was very cosy and all people were talking about was how amazing it was.
We hit the ground running with the second act refuelled by caffeine and orange squash with three excellent singing performances from years 9 and 10, including an original song from Molly sung while playing guitar. This was followed by some more Christmas hits from the years 8 and 9 bands, including my favourite act of the show “White Winter Hymnal” performed flawlessly. Despite the band being quite big they were so organised, all in time and tune, and it sounded amazing. The years 7, 8, 9, 10 choir stunned with their performance of “Shake it out” with an incredible vocal duet from Cecily and Kitty and an accompanying dance duet choreographed by Isla and Molly.
The show closed with a grand finale of “Rule the World” from the year 7 choir and years 10 and 11 GCSE students. The evening was rounded off with a speech from headteacher Mr Downes thanking everyone for their involvement, including the sound and lighting crew who for the first time were students and you wouldn’t have known! Credit to their excellent work.
I had an amazing time and left wishing I’d been a part of it. The performances were exceptional and everyone so lovely. It was a credit to the performing arts team and all the creative arts students that it was so high quality. I’m looking forward to next year’s show already. 10/10 would recommend.
Image Credits: Amy Biddle .