Highfields will once again be turning red to shine a light on the struggling Arts industry - after successfully keeping Performance alive during lockdown with a packed programme of productions, workshops and live-streamed shows.
Lockdown has done little to dampen the creative spark of the school’s Performance department, which has gone above and beyond to deliver a vast and varied creative schedule for young performers despite school closures and social distancing measures.
Among the events staged during the pandemic was the Lockdown Live Lounge concert, which featured stunning performances from soul superstar Beverley Knight - herself a former Highfields student - along with other Highfields alumni. The event, which was live-streamed on the school’s YouTube channel, raised more than £1,000 for NHS staff working on the frontline during the pandemic.
Dozens of students also showcased their stage skills in the Highfields Got Talent contest and Highfields Got Talent Christmas Special.
In December, hundreds tuned in to watch talented performers take to the stage in Highfields’ live-streamed musical production of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
The cast was delighted to showcase their talents to audiences at home - including Beverley Knight - with their version of the much-loved production, despite the coronavirus pandemic putting a stop to crowds in the school’s Lyceum theatre. Performers had given up two weeks of their summer holidays back in August last year to start rehearsing for the production, but the packed rehearsal schedule had to be ripped up due to strict Covid-19 measures - meaning some students took to the stage with just five rehearsals under their belt.
Despite the challenges that came with staging the production, Highfields’ Director of Performance, Ms S Bishop, said seeing the show go ahead was ‘one of the proudest moments’ of her career.
Auditions are currently under way for the school’s latest production, Aladdin, which is open to all students in Years 7, 8 and 9, and is due to be staged in the summer term - hopefully in front of live audiences.
Meanwhile, Highfields has formed a creative collaboration with acclaimed Wolverhampton-based Gazebo theatre exploring the Windrush generation, and the themes of migration, racism and prejudice.
The school is now throwing its weight behind the latest Light It In Red campaign, which aims to draw attention to the challenges facing venues in the live events, arts, theatre and music industry.
As part of the campaign - which runs from Monday 15th March to Friday 19th Match - companies, venues and organisations are once again being encouraged to light buildings in red to symbolise the 'red alert' level the industry is under due to the ongoing restrictions on large-scale events, whilst sharing a heart symbol in a show of support for the industry.
Ms S Bishop, Highfields’ Head of Extra-Curricular Performance, said: “As a school, we pride ourselves on nurturing the talents of our young performers, providing students of every ability with the opportunity to take part in a range of activities, workshops, trips and live performances.
“We see that programme as a vital complement to the curriculum, helping to develop well-rounded, socially skilled and confident students, which is why the Arts are so important.
“Despite lockdown presenting many challenges, we have been determined to continue offering a range of opportunities to keep Performance alive at Highfields for our students.
“We are delighted to be able to build on this now school has reopened and our students are all really looking forward to getting back on site to continue nurturing their Performance skills.
“As we form part of the fabric of Arts across the country, we are delighted to support this latest Light It In Red campaign.”
