The Co-op Academy in North Manchester encourages every student in the Arts. All have the opportunity of leaning musical instruments and they have a thriving Big Band, String Orchestra and Rock Band (who all performed this evening); they have The CAM Choir (pictured), as well as individual tuition in instruments. They also have a large drama department, where creativity and confidence is developed. Again, we watched some sketches performed by the drama students this evening. In February, the school will be presenting the junior version of the hit show, We Will Rock You, and a couple of the songs were also previewed this evening too.
The Academy Theatre is perhaps a little off the beaten track, but still within very easy reach of the city centre, and is a large and well -equipped theatre space ideal for both school use and outside hire.
The Co-op Academy is a non-selective, mixed secondary school and the students who performed this evening were all in their early teens or perhaps even a year or so younger. Starting with a couple of MCs, who took us through the items on the programme we watched and listened to a broad cross-section of the school's Art department. Whilst on display on either side of the stage were some of the school's fine art work, with a TV monitor in the foyer on continual loop showing some of the students' photography.
It was the two MCs who made this concert both unique and so delightful. A young lad with a cheeky grin on his face continually saying "Wow!" after every item, and losing his place on the prompt sheets, whilst a slightly older girl helped him and this became something of a comedy double-act which could easily have been developed into a whole routine. It was both charming and lovely!
14 seperate items in total took us through the evening, and the rear screen was also utilised to aid us in our understanding of the pupils' names and the music etc they were playing. Two brave young soloists performed for us: Alessia Codres on ukelele [apparently an instument which is now overtaking popularity from the recorder in schools] and Amber Foulkes on piano, playing an Einaudi favourite, 'I Giorni,. Both deserving a special mention here.
The drama items were self-devised, and the first was a festive remake of the classic sketch "The Four Yorkshiremen" [Monty Python], whilst the girls in the second act read a poem about The Stickman, and scurried around trying to finish The 12 Days Of Christmas with only 5 people! My only slight criticism would be that vocally the students were rather quiet, and so it would have been preferable to have brought them nearer the front of the stage (or maybe even given them mics).
Of all the items on offer this evening though, there were two favourites. First was a lovely acapella two-part harmony Christmas song called 'Mary Did You Know', which was beautifully interpreted by the CAM Choir; and the second was one of the songs which is to be in the musical We Will Rock You in February. Parly because the lyrics to this song are so wonderful; partly because it is a lesser known song; but mostly because the soloist, Harriet Robinson gave a tear-jerking and heartfelt rendition of it this evening. The song was 'No One But You'.
This is not to deride or lessen the quality and acheivement of any of the other items this evening; far from it. All were of an equally high standard. Those two were just my personal favourites!
Thank you for allowing me to come and share your evening, and for bringing seasonal joy to us all. The concert finished in jocular mood with three girls either side of the stage doing over-the-top and ridiculous mime movements to the song 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer'! Another hilarious highlight, and I left the theatre with a huge grin on my face.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 16/12/19
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