Wonka musical makes audience melt

FROM dancing lollies to Blues fans and social media influencers – Bangalow Public School students embraced an array of characters for their recent Wonka musical production at the neighbouring A&I Hall.

Creative and performing arts teacher Jenevieve Beves said students who helped write the script put a modern spin on the classic Roald Dahl tale of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was written more than 50 years ago.

“I try to pick a timeless story that has universal themes and speaks across the generations, then they come up with ways to modernise the characters and the things that they might say and do,” she said.

“To make it more relevant to them they decided that Charlie would be a kid obsessed with football who was really disappointed he wasn’t going to the State of Origin; instead he had to go to a chocolate factory.

“In the original version Veruca was a spoiled brat – in this one her dad was an e-commerce entrepreneur and she was an influencer.

“It’s really fun; I couldn’t imagine the things that they come up with.”

Every student at the school played a role in the musical – whether it was kindergarten kids performing choreographed dance routines with their class or older students as part of the backstage crew.

“It think that it’s really important that it’s a really inclusive production,” Miss Beves said.

“Doing a school musical can be challenging when kids don’t have a buy-in.

“The Year 5 and 6 students who helped write the script had speaking parts if they wanted them.

“There were two classes that had to dress as confectionery, and they came up with all sorts of different things.

“It was so cool to see them up on stage in their creations.”

Miss Beves said she was extremely proud of the students.

“They performed with such joy and brought so much energy – it was contagious,” she said.