Once On This Island School Musical

I first saw this show in a small theatre in Southwark in 2019, before I was a teacher, and even then I thought it would be perfect for a school production. The setting is vibrant, the story heartfelt, the songs toe-tappers, and the message beautiful: that love can conquer all the negative forces in the world. The cast dived into this extraordinary story with gusto, and their enthusiasm was incredible to witness.

This was the fifth musical that St James’ has presented, and it faced challenges unlike any of our previous shows. Once on This Island is very chorus-heavy, with around 90% of it sung-through, so protecting our voices was a major focus. We also had to contend with two cast members breaking their ankles and two others dropping out due to health reasons. At one point, it felt like the challenges might be insurmountable, but the dedication of the cast kept us on track and helped create a truly phenomenal production.

Throughout rehearsals, the young people in this show embodied our school values: they showed resilience when things went wrong, aspiration to achieve more, and a commitment to excellence. I am so proud of all of them, and I know everyone who saw the show thoroughly enjoyed their performance!

Mr Howlett-Reeves - Director

Photo Available here