Perse students make a song and dance for charity
For One Night Only, Perse performers came together in a student-led show to raise funds for charity.
Organised by Sixth Form Charities Committee music and drama leads Alice Wentzell and Imogen Warren (both Upper Sixth), the event was a celebration of musical theatre in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Alice and Imogen took on compering duties, as well as opening the show as part of the Senior Dance Club’s performance of One Night Only – inspiring the title of the concert – from hit musical Dreamgirls.
Featuring pupils from Year 7 to Upper Sixth, the show included a range of acts from soloists to dance groups performing numbers from musicals as diverse as Our House, based on the music of eighties band Madness, to the classic Singing in the Rain.
All performers came together for a rousing finale of You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen.
Alice and Imogen were inspired to put on the show after being involved in a similar student-led revue in The Loft, arranged by Jonathan Black (2020), several years ago.
“It was so much fun to do and we thought we should bring it back, but on a bigger scale for charity,” said Alice.
Alice and Imogen admitted putting One Night Only together was a step into the unknown for them, but they enjoyed getting to grips with the challenge.
“The acts all picked what song they wanted to perform and it was completely down to them to rehearse themselves,” said Alice.
“We hadn’t seen them until the day before at the dress rehearsal and had no idea what to expect, but it all went well.”
Imogen said the response to the event had been tremendous with a full house in attendance helping to raise around £550 for EACH.
She added: “I’m really proud of how it went because at the start it was just an idea and I wasn’t sure if we would actually do it. It would be great if someone could carry it on next year.”
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