11 - 14 March 2020

Proudly performed by the pupils of

THE NELSON THOMLINSON SCHOOL

Synopsis

Act I

Act I opens with the auction of some old items at the Paris Opera House. Time is retraced to tell the mysterious tale of ‘The ’. It begins with the rehearsal of the opera ‘Hannibal’. Hannibal, played by the famous, Ubaldi Piangi, returns victorious from battle to meet his wife, played by Carlotta, the theatre’s resident soprano. The owner of the theatre, Lefevre, interrupts and announces the sale of the theatre to Messrs Firmin and Andre, who are supported by a young nobleman, Raoul. Only after Lefevre leaves do they realise that the theatre has a resident ‘Phantom’ who controls the theatre and demands a large and regular fee.

During the rehearsal, a piece of scenery inexplicably falls, narrowly missing Carlotta who storms out and refuses to sing. The young Christine Daaé, a member of the chorus, is recruited to sing in her place, with the encouragement of her friend and Meg’s mother Madame Giry, the dance mistress, who knows more about the Phantom than she lets on.

When Raoul hears Christine sing, he is delighted to realise that she is his long lost childhood sweetheart. Christine explains that she is unable to rekindle their friendship because of a mysterious music teacher that she has never actually seen. Raoul chooses to ignore this. The mysterious music teacher is, of course, the masked Phantom, who whisks Christine away to his underground lair where the full extent of his lonely existence is revealed. After discovering his hideously deformed face, Christine is moved to pity by his misery and a new relationship begins to be forged between them.

However, when she returns to the opera house, The Phantom demands that Christine is given the lead in the next production, ‘Il Muto’ and that Carlotta should be given the role of a mute pageboy. The new owners foolishly decide to ignore The Phantom and instead cast Carlotta in the lead role – which leads to disaster!

Meanwhile, Raoul and Christine cannot help falling in love – she takes him to the top of the opera house where they swear their undying love for each other. Unfortunately, the jealous Phantom overhears their conversation and Act I ends with a violent act of revenge.

Act II

Act II opens, six months on, with a joyous masquerade ball celebrating Christine and Raoul’s engagement. All is going well until the arrival of The Phantom. He has written his own opera, ‘Don Juan’, and demands that it is performed with Christine as the lead.

Raoul has a plan to outwit The Phantom; a marksman and others lay in wait while the new (and awful) opera is performed. It begins and, as expected, The Phantom is drawn to Christine who he drags down to his lair. She is in danger and Raoul must save her from her damaged and sad mentor. Madame Giry gives Raoul a stark warning as he descends into The Phantom’s lair.

It is advice that he does not heed…

Co–Directors (in no particular order) Mrs R Carroll, Mrs R Le Breton, Mrs L Lynn, Miss F Hardy

Chorus

Alisa Hogg Millie-Mae Thompson Jessica Pietersen Evie Sproat Veronika Koscusko Jessica Williams Florence Prior Alex Harbach Belle Hastings Nicole Greenway Katie Ewin Victoria Boothman Ffion Jenkins Sophie Fisk-Ndah Also all available principals

Choreography and Dance Orchestra Principal Choreographer Conductor Mrs R Le Breton Percussion and Sound Tech: Toby Cass Miss F Hardy Woodwind 1 Alice Henderson Choreographers Woodwind 2 Rosie Cooper Eva Smith Poppy Deakin Kerry Greenway Woodwind 3 Isabella Brown Woodwind 4 Lucy Irving Dancers Woodwind 5 Marcus Carlsson Eva Smith Ann Bishop Kerry Greenway Horn 1 Pam Harris Georgina Huntington Horn 2 Jennifer Woodward Meaghan Lloyd Horn 3 Ben Jackson Ffion Jenkins Trumpet Ian Sharman Victoria Boothman Trombone Jodie Roberts Matthew Whitehead Graham Harris Adam Swainson Piano David Shingler Synth Alex Birkett Violins Philippa Hall (Leader) Alice Reid Christie Richardson Charlie Burfield Louise Peacock Viola Esme Hogg Cello Rachel Owen Jake Cardigan Rebecca Clear

Technical and Other Support

Technical Manager Makeup Set Design Mr G Desmond Jess Sansom Mrs G Allin Elizabeth Dixon Lighting Joshua Thompson Set Construction Elysha Cockbain Mr M Irving Matthew Ellwood Costumes/Sewing Mrs G Allin Mrs Elaine Adamson Mr A Clay Sound: Mrs J Ellis-Williams Finlay Zachopoulos Miss R Hatton With special thanks to Mrs R Rory Cuninghame Mrs Tracey Tait Blake who gave up a great deal Meghan Gray Miriam Stobart of her time to make both the Sarah Shingler magnificent boat and Phantom Miriam Stobart chair. These are major With especial thanks to Mrs contributions to the set and we Stage Management Elaine Adamson who tirelessly are extremely grateful for her and enthusiastically made a efforts. Set Manager huge number of skirts, shirts Miss F Hardy and other costumes with Set decoration incredible close attention to Mrs E Walker Support detail. Together with her Mrs G Allin Mrs L Lynn husband, Stewart M Adamson, Miss R Morley she donated not only her time Elephant banners Mrs D Johnson and effort but also all the fabric. Miss R Hatton Mr A Johnson Mrs Adamson’s heroic efforts Miriam Stobart Mrs G Allin have set up the school costume Miss R Hatton cupboard for many years to General support Daisy Connor come and we are incredibly Miss F Hardy Olivia Zachopoulos grateful. Mrs D Small Bobbie Rowley Pyrotechnics Meghan Gray Mr A Heyes Elizabeth Dixon

Backstage Mrs M Banks Mr S Rudd Mrs G Foster

Front of House Mrs H Naylor Mrs J Cass

Ticket Coordinator Ms K Reynolds

Security Mr J Scott

The Principals – Wednesday & Friday

Sam Weakley Sophie Madden Adam Swainson as as as The Phantom Christine Raoul

Gemma Bell Kerry Greenway Beth MacKenzie as as as Madame Giry Meg Giry Carlotta

Adam Cuninghame Robbie Anson Ross French as as as Firmin Andre Piangi

The Principals –Wednesday & Friday

Wilfred Fletcher Oliver Hartley-Graham Matthew Whitehead as as as Reyer Lefevre Buquet

Passarino Brodie Coulthard Nurse Millie-Mae Thompson Auctioneer Ted West-Sadler Officers Scott Cooper- Holmes Florence Prior Matthew Whitehead

In Gratitude The following deserve a particular mention and our very special thanks for their support

Mr G Desmond for constant support and willingness to think laterally to make things happen on the technical front

Elizabeth Bell at The John Peel Theatre for the loan of many costumes and for making others when we were short

Theatre by the Lake for the loan of costumes and a replacement smoke machine

Fiona Ryden for picking up our purchases in Grimsby

Sam Wilkinson at the ‘Studio A’ for the loan of set items

‘The Barista’ Coffee Shop for the loan of the gavel

Mr Robert Berry – Lead Consultant, ‘The Really Useful Group’ for his unending support, generosity and kindness in the face of our many questions