Cranford Review 2019

“I enjoyed the year 8s opera this morning.
It’s impressive that they did everything
themselves and that they were brave
enough to perform in front of so many
people! I couldn’t see myself having that
confidence when I was their age”.
Police Constable Ian Franks 1704WA
(Hounslow Safer Schools Team /
Metropolitan Police)
nature brought, of which there were many including; Script writers and
actors needing to respond to the ever changing directions the story was
going; Musicians, singers and song writers adapting lyrics, melodies and
music styles according to the characters and their moments of drama;
The costume and set designers bringing to life the visual elements to
not only reflect the futuristic time frame but the characters’ identity
(and where actors were playing more than one role) the need for quick
costume changes with masks and other stage devices. To achieve all this,
they decided to use four large screens hung above the audience’s head
where images were projected to determine the setting whist the actors
and chorus performed around a raised traverse stage and the musicians
remained on the fixed stage area. With the audience sitting very closely
to the performers they became part of the shared experience and were
not only witnesses to the “crime” but felt part of the action, particularly
during the “lock down” scenes.
There is no doubt that this whole experience has been one which
demonstrated how a group of young people can engage with and bring
to life a very important message through a creative and exciting forum.
This is all their own work and a real achievement to take pride in. Kevin
Prunty, Executive Headteacher was so impressed that he facilitated the
whole school being able to see the production calling it a “Stunning,
inclusive and inspirational production giving a very important message”.
Jessica Joyce (Consultant - Creative Arts)
“I just wanted to say again
how impressed I was with the performance today
– they had written some incredible compositions and I
heard some really talented voices. It was great to see
how Porgy had inspired the production and how they
had taken the story and made it relevant to their own
lives, please pass on my congratulations to the cast”.
Poppy Harrison (Bayliss Assistant Producer ENO &
London Coliseum)
“I am incredibly
thankful to be
part of this amazing
production. I was the lead singer.
Usually singing is not my thing but
the teacher gave me confidence
to actually achieve my goals and
helped me to get where I am. I
contributed to most of the song
writing as I utterly enjoyed it
because you work as a team and
you turn an everyday phrase into
a remarkable song. I sang the solo
and the comments. I was genuinely
pretty shocked as I did not have the
confidence to do it myself but when
I got up there it was amazing and
you feel proud because you write a
song then sing that song you get a
type of joy and happiness. I would
love to thank the music teachers
because they were able to give me
this world prize and they never
gave up. If I missed a few notes and
I’d say ‘’no I will never be able to
reach this high or this low’’ they
encouraged me. The staff had taken
their time out to help us and to
make this amazing play ‘’Trouble’’
actually happen”.
Amrit Johal (year 8)
“I played Aria’s mum. At the
beginning of this journey, I never
thought I would have got this far.
It was also really fun being on
stage and acting, as I’ve never had
a big part before. It was lovely to
be part of an original Cranford
Community College production.
Now that it is finished, I feel that I
have accomplished something big,
thanks to the opera squad. I do miss
having after school rehearsals and
practicing my lines over and over
again. A big thank you to all my
friends and family for encouraging
me and helping me learn my lines. I
couldn’t have done it without you”.
Zaakirah Sheikh (year 8)
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