The movie SCHOOL OF ROCK is a go to modern day classic for many of us, and was a real lockdown favourite. It really is one of those you can put on and enjoy over and over again. Well, I’m here to tell you, if you love the movie, you really haven’t seen anything till you catch it live on stage. This show really comes alive with an audience, a brilliant cast and musicians and the Wales Millennium Centre is where you can see it this week.
It was press night last night and it seemed to me that many of us were already pre-ordained fans of the story. It was everything you would expect and then some more. I can’t begin to tell you how first rate it is, and everyone left the theatre full of praise – as you’ll see from the audience reaction a little further down this feature.
The show pretty much follows that of the Jack Black movie but with 14 new songs by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER and GLENN SLATER and a book by JULIAN FELLOWES – yes the guy who gave us Downton Abbey, this really is a two hour plus music and comedy fest, with (as they say in the best rock songs) a little bit of love thrown in for good measure.
Dewey Finn is our hero, although not at first. He’s a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. He impersonates Ned Scheebly to get the job and once he’s in class, sets about turning the straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.
While teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock, Dewey falls for the school’s beautiful, but uptight headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within.
Dewey, played brilliantly by JAKE SHARP is a proper guitar thrashing, all singing, high energy star. Seriously, he never stops on stage. He’s funny and hugely likeable and personifies all the best parts of Dewey’s child-like innocence we know from the film, and so much more.
It’s a difficult role to make your own, with so much movie appreciation. Jake plays the part so well, and with consummate ease, that it is his within the first thirty seconds. He is something really special as Dewey.
I’m sure Jake won’t mind me saying this, as great as he is, it really is the pupils of Horace Green School who garner the most audience attention. This is after all School of Rock, and boy can these kids rock the classroom.
Before we go any further, let’s find out what last night’s audience thought of the show. You’ll also hear from members of ACTING UP PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY who are based in Swansea. It seemed like the entire school had turned out to watch the show.
We just want to thank them all for their time and enthusiasm……
As Andrew Lloyd Webber told us in a pre-recorded message at the start of the performance, the kids do play all their own instruments in the show and we don’t mean in a cute ‘ahh look at them having a go at the recorder‘ way. They can shred the axe and smash the drums (see, we’re down with the kids) as well as any band you’ll see on the Donald Gordon stage.
Of course, rules prevent the young actors performing at every show, so who you might see in your performance could be different to last night. We are though certain that whoever is on the stage, will bring an energy to the show, the like of which you won’t have seen from such a young company.
There are actually three or four young actors for each of the pupil roles, so it really is one big production. To check out the full cast list go HERE. – or check out the class register at the bottom of the page.
There are some big boys and girls playing in the “Grown Up†band, with Michael Riley keeping it in check. Putting everyone together, young and a little older, is something magical and in a ‘class‘ of their own.
I do want to give a special mention to REBECCA LOCK who is Rosalie – sorry that should be Miss Mullins to us students. She turns in a fantastic performance.
Her transformation from beastly Principal into Dewey’s beauty is such a sweet storyline. As he grows up, she blossoms into a free spirit who shares his passion for Stevie Nicks. She particularly shines during ‘Where Did The Rock Go‘.
Which brings us to another point – the set. If you been to the Wales Millennium Centre before you’ll know just how large the main stage is. The School of Rock set almost seems made for it. The transformation from concert venue, to Deweys’s bedroom, to school and sleazy bar is both seamless and impressive. I’d go as far as saying it is one of the most imaginative stagings I’ve seen here for a while.
There is a little bit of ‘Wales’ performing on the stage too.
First up there’s South Wales lad ALFIE MORWOOD, who we can tell you is a huge musical theatre fan, as well as performer now.
School of Rock is Alfie’s professional stage debut and he is excited to be part of this amazing show.
He said he’s been so lucky to make such lovely friends on this journey. Some of them left the show recently and he will miss them very much. He also has huge praise for the amazing cast, crew and chaperones for everything they do. He’d like to thank his family, school friends and teachers and he hopes you enjoy the show.
Oh we most certainly did Alfie.
Eleven year old OLIVER PEARCE from Conwy, is making his Wales Millennium Centre debut as Lawrence, the keyboard player in the school band. Oliver trains at The Pauline Quirke Academy in Conwy.
Oliver also plays the cello and has taken his grade 7 passing with merit. He is in the National Schools Symphony Orchestra and also loves playing chamber music with his string quartet. He gained distinction for his grade 5 singing, and has fun playing the guitar and drums.
He may be young in years but has so much experience under his belt already. He played the part of Benji in the UK tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which made a stop at the New Theatre in Cardiff, and Trouble’s a Brewin’ in Her Majesty’s Theatre London. So according to us, that makes him a proper Welsh, West End star.
Both Oliver and Alfie had friends in the audience last night, which made it a super exciting night for them, as well as performing on the big stage.
Because there are so many young actors playing each of the roles, we thought it fair to give each of them a credit, as there’s a fair chance you will catch a variety of them throughout the tour.
Not everyone in the School of Rock class is born to be on stage, some students find their place in the background. Summer (KEIRA LAVER, FLORRIE MAY WILKINSON or SAFIA LAYLA) is the stage manager, and a bit of a cute, funny bossy boots.
What we love about the show is that every member of the cast is allowed their moment and they shine brightly with some really great songs and lines.
We were waiting for that moment when Tomika (JASMINE DJAZEL, SOUPARNIKA NAIR or ANGEL LUCERO) finally plucks up the courage to let her voice out, and when she did, we in the audience were almost on our feet to a fantastic rendition of ‘Amazing Grace‘.
As I’ve said already, I am a huge fan of the movie, but there is a far stronger connection between the characters and audience when you see it live. You really go on a journey with all of them and feel a bond with each of the characters, which is also a testament to the talent on stage.
It is really funny too, Julian Fellowes has masterfully woven the story around some great songs. You will laugh out loud many times, especially when Summer addresses the ‘Groupies‘ as ‘sluts‘, it was so wrong but felt incredibly right.
As for Dewey, what he does with his sweaty belly and towel is disgustingly hilariously cringy.
Ned Schneebly (MATTHEW ROWLAND) or ‘Neddy Bear‘ as he’s affectionately known, has some great lines as he tries to compete with Dewey. Although he is desperate to break free from the daily routine, it’s his girlfriend Patty (NADIA VIOLET JOHNSON) who keeps him firmly grounded – until he finally cracks that is.
There’s a wonderfully choreographed scene between him and Dewey shredding the ‘Guitar Hero‘ axe – it will definitely make you want to grab your machine and play wannabe rock star yourself.
It really feels that everyone in the cast is having a real blast in this show, and why wouldn’t you. The songs, both familiar and new are all instantly memorable. The music, played by both young and not so young professionals is outstanding, and the show is an absolute riot from start to finish.
School of Rock is in a class of its own with some of the brightest, most talented Grade-A students around. Going to school has never been so much fun – it rocks……..
SCHOOL OF ROCK: THE MUSICAL is at the Wales Millennium Centre through to 21st May. Tickets are on sale now, and well worth treating you and the family. They range from £19.50 to £45.50. You can get yours here. SCHOOL
And before we finish, it’s time to check off the class register – will all the cast please shout their names when they read them……..
The remaining adult cast features Ryan Bearpark, James Bisp, Joanna O’Hare, Samuel Haughton, Tom Hext, Harveen Mann, Richard Morse, Annell Odartey, Amy Oxley, Helena Pipe, Michaela Powell, Richard Vorster and Craig Watson.
There are three teams of 12 children performing each night. Here are the individual roles and the players…..
Freddy will be played by…….
- Eva McGrath (13 years old from Birmingham)
- Emerson Sutton (13 years old from the West Midlands)
- Thomas Harvey (12 years old from Cheshire)
- Isaac Forward (12 years old from Buckinghamshire)
Katie will be played by
- Chloe Marler (ten years old from Essex)
- Marikit Akiwumi (12 years old from Guildford)
- Daisy Hanna (13 years old from Surrey)
- Ivy Balcombe (nine years old from Surrey)
Lawrence will be played by
- Oliver Forde (12 years old from London)
- Angus McDougall (13 years old from Buckinghamshire)
- David Gluhovsky (12 years old from London)
- Oliver Pearce (11 years old from North Wales)
Zack will be played by
- Joseph Sheppard (12 years old from the West Midlands)
- Harry Churchill (nine years old from Devon)
- Hanley Webb (ten years old from Northamptonshire)
- William Laborde (12 years old from Surrey).
Billy will be played by
- Wilf Cooper (12 years old from Surrey)
- Logan Matthews (11 years old from Berkshire)
- Alfie Morwood (ten years from South Wales)
The role of Summer will be performed by
- Keira Laver (11 years old from Essex)
- Florrie May Wilkinson (ten years old from London)
- Saffia Layla (11 years old from Hertfordshire)
Tomika will be played by
- Jasmine Djazel (11 years old from London)
- Souparnika Nair (ten years old from Bury St. Edmunds)
- Angel Lucero (11 years old from London)
James is played by
- Hadlee Snow (ten years old from Brighton)
- Darmani Eboji (12 years old from Essex)
- Devon Francis (11 years old from London)
- Riotafari Gardner (ten years old from London)
Marcy is played by
- Lily Rose Martin (11 years old from Kent)
- Elodie Salmon (11 years old from London)
- Paris Banyong (nine years old from London)
Mason is played by
- Caelan Wallington (11 years old from Watford)
- Alex Shotton (12 years old from Buckinghamshire)
- Nesim Adnan (ten years old from Kent)
Shonelle is played by
- Kyla Robinson (11 years old from Surrey)
- Eden Anthony (12 years old from London)
- Elisha Kerai (11 years old from London)
Sophie is played by
- Ophelia Parsons (12 years old from London)
- Jemima Newman (nine years old from Bedfordshire)
- Ava Masters (11 years old from Kent)
- Inez Danielak (12 years old from Essex)
