Standing Ovation for a Show to Remember

Last week the Humphreys Theatre was transformed into the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral as audiences were transported to 15th century Paris to hear the tragic tale of Quasimodo, the unfortunate bellringer doomed to a life of seclusion because of his differences. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame explores what it means to be human. The musical’s central question, ‘What makes a monster and what makes a man?’ asks us to consider our attitude to those different or less fortunate than ourselves. ‘God help the outcasts, or nobody will’ it tells us, forcing us to confront the uncomfortable truths in our society that are unfortunately still as relevant today as when Hugo wrote the novel in 1831. The story revolves around several fascinating characters; from the titular bellringer to the selfless Romani woman who shows him kindness, a reformed soldier and a conflicted archdeacon. They are all complex and multifaceted symbols of humanity, and they presented our young cast with the challenge of portraying them truthfully and with nuance. A challenge they all met head on and exceeded.

This was a production on an epic scale; the most ambitious we’ve attempted, and the results spoke for themselves. From Schwartz & Menken’s incredible score to the towering set, the stunning involvement of a community choir, a dedicated make-up team and the commitment and talents of the whole cast, this year’s show did not disappoint. This was an incredible achievement which the final night’s standing ovation solidified, and I couldn’t be prouder of all involved. Congratulations to the wonderful cast, crew and choir and thank you to everyone who helped bring this outstanding musical to our stage.

This year we are nominated in five categories at the National School Theatre Awards, and although we would all agree that every individual in the show deserves specific recognition, we are thrilled to share that our nominations are for:

Best Musical

Best Ensemble

Best Male Musical Solo: Charlie S

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Logan C

Best Actress in a Musical: Emily S

We wait with bated breath for the awards ceremony in June and for the review that will soon follow of the show. However, in the meantime, we congratulate all involved for this exceptional production. Bravo.

Miss Gabi Guttner,
Director of Drama