A Tale as Old as Time: Westonbirt’s Production of Beauty and the Beast 

When the curtain rose on Westonbirt’s annual school production this term, something magical happened. Beauty and the Beast came to life through the energy and talent of pupils from Year 7 right through to Year 13. 

With only ten weeks from first rehearsal to opening night, the production was a remarkable display of heart and creativity. The students threw themselves into every rehearsal, and their dedication shone in every scene.  

One of the standout features of this year’s show was the ensemble work. With a cast of 80, pupils moved with cohesion throughout, supporting one another both on stage and off. Chrissie Smith, Teacher of Drama and Dance, said: “The sense of unity, support and shared excitement was felt in every rehearsal and every performance. Seeing so many young performers share a stage with such confidence and joy was one of the most rewarding parts of the whole process.” 

Behind the curtain, the creative ambition was just as impressive. Every single one of the 162 costumes were made in house, from enchanted teapots and candlesticks to the villagers’ outfits and Belle’s iconic yellow ballgown. 

Of course, no live theatre production would be complete without a few unexpected moments. There were capes with minds of their own, a memorable mid-dance costume malfunction, and perhaps the highlight: when Lumière lost their voice minutes before opening night. The solution? A synchronized lip sync performance while Mr English provided the voice from backstage. It became one of the week’s most talked-about moments. 

Mr English, Head of Drama, reflected on the journey: “I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this production; from the beginning where myself and Mr Jones sat through three hours’ worth of auditions, the rehearsal process where I didn’t (to coin a phrase from the pupils) ‘crash out’ once, to show week where I even got to be part of the production too (even if it was off stage). I am so lucky to have a great team around me and such a wealth of talent from the pupils. It was definitely one of the best shows I have ever had the honour to be involved in, and I couldn’t be prouder.” 

The musical standout came every night during Belle’s performance of A Change in Me. The extended applause that followed was a reminder of the talent within the school, and what these opportunities mean to young performers. For Erin, who played Belle, the experience was a special one: “Beauty And The Beast has always been my dream show to perform in, and from the moment I was cast as Belle, the rehearsals through to the final show has been an absolutely magical experience, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. From Mr Jones helping every line of my songs, Mrs Smith choreographing with my two left feet and Mr English forming each scene with precision, they created a truly enchanted show that will be a part of my heart for the rest of my life.” 

One parent in the audience captured the impact of the production: “I am writing to say how much my wife and I enjoyed the school production of Beauty and the Beast, which we saw yesterday. Thanks to a huge cast of children; a mixed amateur/professional orchestra; very fine staging, costume, direction; and very accomplished singing, acting, and choreography, the production was a testimony to the enormous amount of work by your colleagues and others, and, of course, by the children themselves. We have seen many school productions over the years, and I can’t recall a better one.” 

At Westonbirt, the magic of theatre doesn’t stop here, and already there’s a bit of chatter and excitement about what next year’s production might bring – a new story to tell, with its own moments to be treasured.