The 2013 Variety Show

by Richard Ryan, parent & compère

On Saturday March 2nd we celebrated our tenth annual school variety show with a wealth of talent, skill and enthusiasm that would knock the socks, shoes and trousers off of any televisual equivalent. Over 20 acts took part, nearly a ton of additional technical equipment was brought in, teams of parents organised the backstage area and front of house, and close to 600 people came to watch. This was my 6th year of being involved, and 4th of being the compère and I never fail to be amazed by three things:

1. The number of people who come forward with an idea for an act. Then rehearse it. Then come and have a technical run-through. Then spend all of the Saturday in the school hall performing. Brilliant.
2. The variety of acts we have seems to get better, broader and bolder each year. This year we had an almost full size elephant on stage, a specially written version of The Elements (itself a re-written version of I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General), a puppet of Liz From The Office, piano, harmonica and singing ALL FROM ONE PERSON, a real live moving cardboard box, two whistling clowns … the list goes on.
3. The show goes from being organised chaos in the morning, with most people pulling their hair out and now wondering why they got involved, to a full spectacular show that looks like we almost know what we’re doing by 2pm.

When I first got involved with the variety show all those years ago it was fast, full on and fun. How could it possibly get any better than that (I wondered to myself). “So, Richard,” I hear you cry, “How did it get better?” Well, dear reader, thank you for asking and I’ll tell you: two parents stuck their oars in and brought with them a level of technical expertise and production know how that would make your ears drop off and your eyes explode, and possibly did, if you saw the show. Nathan Flutter and Nigel Roberts would often spend production meetings talking about male to female XLR leads, DI boxes and Par Cans until I wept with confusion; but I think all who attended are glad they did.

Special mention must been given to the students who helped to run the show by helping backstage, setting up microphones or operating lights. They all worked incredibly well together, especially considering the pressure of having an audience watching their every move and remained good company and in high spirits right up until the final curtain. Well done and thank you!

There is one other thing that always amazes me, and that’s the audience. Not only do they arrive (which is vital), and mainly behave themselves, but they also participate with such vital energy and share their appreciation so greatly that the show would be poorer without them.

So roll up, roll up for next year’s extravaganza! Acts are already coming forward, Nigel and Nathan are dusting off the microphones and tickets are (almost) on sale: here’s to next year’s show!