Head's Newsletter 2 February 2018

Every year, selected members of the Rose Young Company perform alongside professional actors in Kingston's Rose Theatre Christmas production. This year, Billy Rilot (9CCC) played Tweedledum in Alice in Winterland (below, right)

Tom Nelson in Year 12 belongs to the Kandahar ski club and is a very good skier. There is a spectacular and quite famous race call The Inferno. It is the longest downhill race in the world – 14KM long, with a 2000m vertical descent, over pretty much untended terrain. It even has some uphill sections. Over 1800 people race it, with two starters every 20 seconds. Depending on conditions, the fastest racer can do it in anything between 8 minutes and 15 minutes. It’s a real test of strength and stamina and mental endurance. Despite weather issues with rain below 1600m and too much snow and wind above 2500m the race went ahead although it was a bit truncated. Tom did very well for his first time. His start time was very late afternoon – there were only about 70 people after him – in a field of over 1800 racers. Unfortunately, a blizzard blew up from mid-afternoon which obviously affected the speed of course and therefore the later racers’ times. Additionally, he lost a ski on a particularly bad corner which was sad for him. Even so he got a time that put him in the bronze category for his class which is really commendable. Photo below—with his Tiffin tie!

The show was performed 43 times to more than 24 000 people over the Christmas period, including many local schools. The audition process was in May and rehearsals began in earnest by September, including every day of the October half term. Balancing school work with this level of commitment was a real challenge but definitely worth it. Billy has made some friends for life and developed skills in stage fighting, clowning, and even perfected a West Country accent. The Rose Young Company runs all year, so if you are interested in drama, please do look at The Rose Theatre's website. It is a community theatre with a mission to build links with local communities and to see people from all walks of life taking part. There is even a Rose Players company for adults! https://www.rosetheatrekingston.org/take -part/young-people