Students from The Wilnecote School in Tamworth recently took to the stage at the Belgrade Theatre, performing their original piece ‘Gary’ to a sold-out audience for the Physical Fellowship. The Years 7, 8, and 9 students also took part in professional drama workshops, showcasing the school’s vibrant performing arts opportunities.

You might expect a trip to the theatre to involve a lot of sitting still in the dark. But for a talented group of students from The Wilnecote School, their recent visit to the Belgrade Theatre was all about action, energy, and a fair bit of paper puppetry!

After spending two intense days creating their original performance piece, titled ‘Gary’, our students from Years 7, 8, and 9 headed to the professional venue to perform in front of a completely sold-out crowd.

The big night was the grand finale of a packed day of learning from the best in the business. Before the curtains even went up, the students took part in two hands-on workshops. First, they teamed up with professional physical theatre company Fourth Monkey, learning how to communicate powerful stories using just their bodies and teamwork, without uttering a single word.

Next, they jumped into the world of puppetry with Les Enfants Terribles. Students got a real feel for how to bring characters to life, starting with their own hands, advancing to making paper move naturally, and even turning everyday objects into theatrical stars. After a quick lunch break, they wrapped up their training with a masterclass from Highly Sprung, the brilliant theatre group that brings the Physical Fellowship festival together each year.

As the school chosen to open the entire show, the pressure was on. The students went straight from their masterclass into a technical rehearsal, getting their very first taste of performing in the massive theatre space.

Their piece, ‘Gary’, explores themes of unity, celebrating our differences, and allowing everyone to be their unique self. When the house lights went down and the stage lights came up, Wilnecote opened the festival with absolute confidence. Their performance was a massive hit, earning huge applause from the packed audience.

“I could not be prouder of how our students carried themselves,” says Miss Julius, Head of Performing Arts and trip lead. “Stepping onto a professional stage in front of a sold-out audience takes an immense amount of bravery. They didn’t just perform; they absorbed every bit of knowledge from the professionals and supported one another beautifully. They were a true credit to the school.”

The achievement highlights the vibrant creative opportunities available to students at the school, something that resonates strongly with both current families and those looking ahead to secondary school.

“Creative arts play a vital role in building confidence and teamwork at Wilnecote,” adds Mr Foskett, Headteacher. “Seeing our younger students in Years 7, 8, and 9 command a professional theatre stage with such maturity is fantastic. It shows the high aspirations we hold for our young people, and I want to congratulate everyone involved in making the show such a brilliant success.”