St Mary’s students show how valuable they can be in school production

Talented students from St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey, recently blew audiences away at the Floral Pavilion in a whole school production of Legally Blonde. 

Due to the pandemic, this was the first time in two years that the college was able to put on a show for the local community. 

Students from Year 7 to 13 all played a part in the sold-out performance which took place across two nights. The hard-working, talented and energetic cast put every ounce of their being into each and every number they sang. 

Legally Blonde: The Musical follows bubbly, blonde aspiring law student Elle Woods and her journey through Harvard Law School to become a lawyer. 

The cast shone in their roles both on and off stage, with many assisting with rehearsals and production. On the night, a number of staff and students offered their support by working front of house selling raffle tickets and programmes. 

Elle Woods was played by Georgina Benson, who will be going on to study musical theatre at university in September. 

Georgina said: “Over the past few months, everyone has worked tirelessly and incredibly hard to create this production. Our love for theatre and musicals has made this whole process even more exciting, especially as this will be my last show at St Mary’s.” 

Miss McCallion, head of drama at St Mary’s said: “It has been a pleasure to work with students on this over the past four months. They have shown resilience to the many challenges we have been faced with, commitment and passion to the production and, most importantly, kindness to each other throughout the entire process.” 

Year 8 student Hope Corkish said: “This was my first production at St Mary’s and I enjoyed every second of it. I can’t wait for the next one.” 

More than 100 Year 5 students from across a number of local primary schools also took part in the production. 

John McDonald, headteacher of St Alban’s Catholic Primary School, said: “It was a fabulous, professional production and a great opportunity to work with our feeder secondary school.  

“These experiences, which we have missed for so long, have such a powerful, formative effect on the children. We feel really privileged and pleased to be a part of it.  

“From our school perspective, it’s made us want to do more stuff like this as children have missed a lot due to the pandemic. We look forward to collaborating with St Mary’s again over the next few years.” 

Many students past and present were also in the audience to offer their support. Those who were unable to perform two years ago in the college’s production of ‘School of Rock’ returned to applaud their former peers. 

Headteacher of St Mary’s, Mr Kevin Maddocks, ensured these former students had their time to shine and received a round of applause for their hard work 

Mr Maddocks said: “St Mary’s Catholic College has the highest ambition for all its students. Relationships are at the heart of everything at St Mary’s and this year really epitomised this with former students showing up to give support to their former schoolmates. 

“Pupils and staff have worked so hard to make Legally Blonde a production to remember. It was brilliant to see every seat filled in the Floral Pavilion! 

Mr Maddocks added: “As one more in a long line of successful performances, I think it’s safe to say that the performing arts department and the wonderful students of St Mary’s Catholic College really do know how to put on a show!”