St John Paul II College staged its very first musical production:  The Greatest Show: A Vaudeville over three nights this month with an original script devised by teachers and students who developed the production together.

Over sixty students involved in the cast and crew performed to combined audiences of 1000 after inviting feeder schools to a preview matinee performance. 

A skeleton narrative was given to the cast and they were guided through devising and improvising explorations to create their characters. Students accepted the challenge, rose to Production Crew’s high expectations and excelled. It is from the students amazing dedication and commitment that they brought the vision to life, ensuring in this show that each character was genuinely unique and shone with personality. 

The process gave students the opportunity to explore how theatre has the power to change people's hearts and minds, the chance to work as a true team with students from all year levels to create and explore a brand-new performance, and to demonstrate talents and skills publicly in front of a live audience.

This musical provided an opportunity to build resilience, social skills, empathy, confidence and creative skills. Students were able to express themselves onstage, while building friendships with an array of creative souls.  The cast created – even to their own surprise – genuinely touching moments of theatre.

The audience roared with laughter, felt goosebumps and sang-a-long. The show was an interactive experience which didn’t stop – not even during intermission where circus themed food was available.

Following the trends of popular culture, this vaudeville styled piece of theatre was a blend of classic Music Hall entertainment and contemporary costumes.  After seeing an amazing circus show, a group of five lonely misfits decide to run away and join the circus. With encouragement from an all-knowing train conductor, Mila, they arrive at the circus in attempt to find their place in the world. Ruby, the Ringleader, welcomes them despite the disgruntled reaction from her skilled Circus Troupe leaders. 

Bosley, Coco, Trixie, Demi and Layla meet the rainbow coloured performers of the circus. This circus journey has a soundtrack of music that is a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, jazz and pop transforming the show into a mix of classic and contemporary ideas for this vaudeville narrative. Much like the music, the characters are a fresh mix of old and new from clowns to comedians, animals to acrobats, dancers and singers - this circus had the potential to be a home if the Runaways are able to impress.

The Greatest Show: A Vaudeville was the first, but certainly not the last, St John Paul II College musical production. Of course, something of this scale has only possible with a creative dedicated team and the support of the College community.

St John Paul II College gives credit to the students, musicians and the skilled backstage crew who set the standard and paved the way for the future JPC musicals. They displayed a professional and inclusive attitude and all worked so hard to achieve.

“We have all followed the dream, and ran away to the circus with lasting memories,” said Director Sarah Keane.