Around a hundred children from Woodland Grove Primary School took to the stage over the weekend to perform Disney’s ‘The Lion King KIDS’.
The 40-minute show was a magical journey as the children old the classic tale of lion cub Simba, and his coming of age story.
The performance was a huge collaboration between Woodland Grove’s music specialist Sheela Sudhakaran, art specialist Andrea Gadd and the students from grades three to six and parents.
The students in year three were split into two groups, to make up the choirs for each performance and students from year four to six audition for parts in the musical.
According to Ms Sudhakaran, the students have practiced twice a week since March.
Held at Byford Secondary College’s theatre, the students had a proper theatre experience including an elephant graveyard set up out front of the auditorium.
“The children put a lot of effort into learning their lines and memorising them,” Ms Sudhakaran said.
“We had costumes for a hundred kids which we borrowed or bought and the parents came up with their own makeup ideas and it was spectacular.
“They researched them for each animal.”
“Ms Gadd made a lot of the props, and some parents helped.
“The rest of our school helped in any way they could by printing programs and informing parents of the musical.”
According to Ms Sudhakaran, the students were split into two groups and performed one play each, except for five students who took on roles left vacant by students who could not attend the performance.
“Those five students did two plays, and they were the stand outs,” she said.
“We had so much positive feedback from parents, they thought it was such a good thing for the children to experience.
“A production like this helps students to understand the value of the arts and the value of cooperation and hard work.
“The students haven’t stopped talking about it.”
Woodland Grove Principal Ashley Mottershead was pleased with the production.
