The John Lyon School pulled out the stops this Easter with a musical spectacular featuring its biggest-ever cast. Forty-six young actors from the independent boys’ school in Harrow and local girls’ schools took to the stage for a three-night run of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved show, Oklahoma!

Around 1,000 people saw the production during its three-night run at the Ryan Theatre – the professionally equipped theatre belonging to Harrow School.

The John Lyon School‘s (JLS) Headmaster Kevin Riley said: “This was a tremendously vibrant and colourful production, combining accomplished acting, great singing and some excellent dancing. Everyone involved, including our Director of Drama Deborah Gibbs, should be congratulated on a splendid show.”

The light-hearted romance set in 1906 was the seventh musical produced at JLS by Miss Gibbs. “I was really drawn to Oklahoma! because it has a good ‘book’- quite a meaty story and not just an unconvincing way to link the songs,” she said. “Another attraction was the 15-minute ‘ballet’ – a dance telling a story – at the end of Act 1. Most companies cut some or all of that sequence, but we haven’t, and the cast loved it. I managed to use really strong dancers in strong dance roles and we had really high-quality ensemble singing. The cast of 46 – 23 boys and 23 girls – was the largest I have ever had here, but also the easiest to work with.”

The final night was a special Gala Night, to which the School invited guests including leavers from recent years who took part in Miss Gibbs’ shows as well as Vice Presidents of the Old Lyonian Association. The reception for the guests was held in Harrow School’s Old Harrovian Room. JLS and Harrow School are both part of the Harrow Foundation.

The cast were supported by 20 crew and some 15 front-of-house volunteers. Professional musicians were recruited by the School’s Joint Head of Expressive Arts, Jo Rowley Jones.

Auditions took in November and there were rehearsals throughout the spring, including five days at the theatre during the half-term holiday. “I get everything ‘blocked’ and choreographed by then, so that in the second half of the term we are adding ‘polish’, not trying to learn new things,” said Miss Gibbs.

She praised Upper Sixth-Former Harry Thatcher, who played the main romantic lead, cowboy Curly (“a perfect voice for it”) and Kwasi Yeboah, who played Will, the other male lead. Miss Gibbs also singled out an “amazing” performance by Chasdip Phull, who played Ali Hakim. The female actors came from The John Lyon School’s partner school, Northwood College, as well as the Royal Masonic School at Heathfield, Stanmore College and St Helen’s. Lead girl Emma Cox, played Laurey, while Issy Tranter was Ado Annie.

Issued on behalf of The John Lyon School by Edge Media

MEDIA CONTACTS: Mr Kevin Riley on 020 8872 8400 or Jan Herbert on 01453 544900 / 07921 084976