Central School students set to dazzle in 'Back to the Movies' musical performance

From left, Santiago Sthory, Kahu Halbert, Noah Hamblyn and Ivana Subeesh perform as the animals from the movie Madagascar at the dress rehearsal at The War Memorial Theatre.

Hundreds of students from Gisborne’s Central School will take to the stage this week for the production of Back to the Movies — an all singing, all dancing extravaganza based on four movies chosen by the children.

The school was divided into four aged-based syndicates.

Syndicates will perform a selection of three or four songs from the movies Trolls, Madagascar, Encanto and Megamind.

“This is a great opportunity for every student to experience being part of a show — to sing and dance and be expressive. It’s also a way to bring the arts into the curriculum, “ says Central School principal Stu Barclay.

Production director and teacher Susan Vorster said the idea for the production was generated by the staff, but it had to be put on hold due to Covid.

“When we planned it, everyone was clear that they missed good times — like going to movies. And the concept was born: Back To The  Movies,” she said.

“Each syndicate chose a children’s movie with good music and a potential to convey a message. They worked out which songs to use and what the choreography would look like.”

In the show, a drama group made up of four siblings and a mum travel through the movies by means of a videotape, CDs, a pen-drive and finally VR goggles

to transport them into

the movies.

The students — all 380 of them — helped with choreography, writing parts of the scripts, making props and of course practising for two terms to get to this quality.

“We cannot emphasise enough how we saw the Key Competencies in our teaching come to life: managing yourself; relating to other people; thinking; using text and symbols; and participating and contributing,” Ms Vorster explained.

“It is great to see it all come together and it makes us a stronger team than ever before.

“It was an amazing journey to get here, with a lot of perseverance and commitment required and learning along the way.”