YOUNG actors and musicians are about to embark on a once in a lifetime experience when their school stages its most ambitious production to date.
Ripon Grammar School is putting the finishing touches to the stage spectacular Les Miserables school edition, which begins a four-night run on Tuesday, March 18.
The show is not licensed to any group with performers aged over 19 so most among the grammar school’s teenage cast will not get the chance again.
Director Laura Jackson said the production was an exciting challenge for the actors, musicians and technical crew.
"The recent film of Les Miserables has revived interest in the show and we have seen a very good response from parents, friends and the wider community who want to come and see our production at Ripon Grammar School," she said.
The principal cast includes Jonathan Pitts as Jean Valjean, Robbie Aitken as Javert, Adam Makepeace as Marius and Aidan Clancy as Thenardier.
Sally Pitts and Maria Scullion are sharing the role of Fantine, while Louisa Chatterton and Martha Barber will both play Eponine. Louisa’s twin sister Katharine will be Little Cosette, along with Anna Marley. Alice Hoult and Lauren Langham will share the role of Cosette.
The show is especially demanding for musicians who have faced learning four books of score with minimal breaks in music throughout the complex, two-hour performance.
Musical director of the pit orchestra Beth Morpeth said: "Les Mis is sung through which means there is music going on all the time, even during scene changes. It's been a really good experience for the students because everyone has to be on top of their game.
"There is so much music that there isn't time to do a full run-through before rehearsing with the singers; we can only practice sections at a time. The students have really risen to the challenge and they've all done a lot of practice at home.
"It's very different to anything they've done before and because they're together in the challenge they've become a very tight group."
Some members of the orchestra are called on to play multiple instruments including Jessica Grainger, 16, on saxophone and flute, and oboe player Sonia Gray, 17, who has learned the cor anglais especially for the show.
There is little respite for the actors too who either sing or perform recitative delivery throughout the performance, while the staging and technical crews have to fit a grand piano into the pit orchestra as well as finding space for a 50-strong ensemble.
Curtain up is at 7pm from March 18-21. For more information and to book seats visit www.ripongrammar.co.uk
