Watching

When forces unite…

On Thursday (22nd January), Primary 7 of Leith Walk Primary School ventured up to the Festival Theatre Studio to meet and work with Music in the Community students and the creative team behind Watching for the first time.

After much excited chitter chatter between pupils and students, everyone was keen to get started. Our choreographer Skye led a fun physical warm-up that had everyone running around and bouncing up and down, before Dee (the musical brains behind Watching) and Music in the Community students taught the children a fun “good night” singing game as a vocal warm-up. By the end, everyone was raring to go!

It took us about an hour and half – including a short break to re-energise with juice and biscuits! – to run through the whole opera, and the focus and enthusiasm shown by Leith Walk pupils was absolutely incredible; they are, without a doubt, an enormous credit to their school. Our two leads, Patryk and Carla (who play Jay and Ada respectively), rose to the challenge wonderfully and we can’t wait to see them in action in the Botanics. We were especially impressed with how Carla stayed so cool in a creepy scene with her Nightmare (played by Iulian Furtuna) – it was quite frightening, even to a group of students in their twenties!

Everyone had a fantastic time and we can’t wait to start preparations with the stars at Leith Walk Primary School this coming Wednesday.

Photos by Andy Catlin