Performing Arts is a key part of Edisford's wide and diverse curriculum and all children, from Early Years to Year 6, fully embrace the performing ethos.

Recent Key Stage 2 productions include the highly ambitious 'Oliver!' by Lionel Bart, 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and 'Cats' by Andrew Lloyd Webber.  

To earn their Performing Arts badge, children participate fully in all stages of preparing a production, from making props and costumes to learning complex lyrics and choreographing dance routines, supporting their peers in rehearsals and final performances... This enriching experience has a highly positive impact on children’s learning across all areas of the curriculum, promoting confidence, persistence, organisation, people skills and emotional resilience: crucial life skills.

Not to be outdone by the juniors, infant performances are truly magical, with children from Nursery to Year 2 retelling the traditional Christmas story in wonderfully upbeat ways.  Recent performances include 'Lights, Camel, Action! Strictly the Nativity', 'Prickly Hay' and 'Humph the Camel'.  In December 2018, children in Nursery and Reception starred in their own performance of 'We're going on a Baby Hunt'.

Proud parents and grandparents are always amazed to see the confidence, enthusiasm and pure talent demonstrated by Edisford children.

Look below to see a selection of photos from performances in recent years. 

Oliver! December 2018

Our juniors have once again raised the roof at St. Mary's Hall with their rousing rendition of the classic tale of 'Oliver!'.  Two sold-out shows were performed on Monday 10th and Friday 14th December.

During their preparations for this ambitious production, children studied life in Victorian England for children of their age and also received the visit of the Arty-Fact Theatre Co. who performed their own ‘Oliver Twist’ for the whole school.

As always with Edisford productions, parents and other family members were bursting with pride to see the poise, vitality and sheer talent demonstrated by the cast.

Special guests at Monday’s performance were: retired Edisford Deputy Headteacher, David Edmondson; Councillor Sue Hind of Edisford and Low Moor Ward; Claire Marsden of Johnson Matthey; Reverend Catherine Hale-Heighway of St. Paul’s Church and Noel Hodgson, Edisford Governor. The Hon. Pam Downson, Mayor of Clitheroe attended Friday’s performance as a special guest.

A vote of thanks was given by Headteacher, Rob Pye, to all members of the staff team who worked with the children to bring the performance to life. Thanks were also expressed to the team at St. Mary’s Hall for all of their support and expertise.

The slide show below gives a flavour of the vibrancy of their performance.

Lights, Camel, Action! Strictly the Nativity - December 2018

Our Year 1 and Year 2 children once again performed their hearts out in a new take on the traditional Nativity story: ‘Lights, Camel, Action! Strictly the Nativity’!

Two sold-out shows absolutely wowed audiences in the School Hall on Wednesday 12^th and Thursday 13^th December.

Edisford children are introduced to Performing Arts from the very start of their school career and they are encouraged to participate in all aspects of preparing a production. The Year 1 and 2 children certainly proved that they are not novices in the art of performing as they sang, danced and delivered complex lines with the utmost confidence, panache and poise!

To the delight of the audience, the cast closed their phenomenal performance with a Christmas favourite: ‘Sleigh Ride’.

Rob Pye expressed his admiration for the high-quality performance and thanked all members of the staff team who worked with the children to bring this wonderful performance to life.

Take a look through some of the photos of their stunning performance.

We're going on a Baby Hunt - December 2018

In their first solo production, Nursery and Reception children brought the house down with a special Nativity adaptation of the popular ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen. Parents, grandparents and other family members were delighted with their beautifully polished performance!

Although young, our young performers certainly showed that 'star quality' as they learned an impressive amount of lines and lyrics.

Christmas classics such as ‘We Three Kings’, ‘Away in a Manger’ as well as ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ were sweetly sung by the children. The joyous performance closed with a stampingly good ‘Jingle Bell Rock’! Well done to all of the Future Stars of Edisford; we are so very proud of you!