Students rock out to sell-out musical

The cast of We Will Rock You at RSFC

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For three nights last week, College Road was transformed into Rochdale’s very own version of the West End with talented Year 12 and Year 13 Rochdale Sixth Form College students performing in a sell-out run of the epic Queen musical, We Will Rock You.

A team of over 30 students, led by teachers Laura Ainscow, James Reevell, and Stacey Pike, took responsibility for every element of the show from performance through to backstage and costume roles; with Callum Forbes, a former student at Whitworth High School, taking the male lead of Gallileo, and Katie Walsh, who formerly attended Middleton Technology School, playing the female lead of Scaramouche.

Other major cast roles were taken by Ryan Duffy and Lauren Carey, also former pupils at Whitworth High School and Middleton Technology School; David Scott, a former pupil at Balderstone Technology College; Catherine Ayers, previously of Oulder Hill Community School, and Robert Bradley, who went to The Blue Coat School.

The students, who auditioned for the musical in September, began rehearsals in October as part of their Enrichment studies, a wide range of courses available at the College to help students extend their education and personal growth beyond their academic studies, while also providing useful experience for their University application forms.

Julian Appleyard, College Principal, said: “The musical was a phenomenal success and received rave reviews from the audience at each performance. I am hugely proud of the cast members, who were truly outstanding, and also all the students and staff who helped behind the scenes to create a show of such a professional calibre.

“Performances such as these stand testament not only to the great talents and commitment of our young adults here at the College, but also to the quality of our Enrichment courses, which give students chance to broaden their experience.”

Ms Ainscow, added: “The enormous amount of hard work that went into We Will Rock You certainly paid off and the students should be very proud of their efforts. Many of the principal cast members are hoping to go on to study dance or drama at University, and judging by the performances they put in last week – they have every reason to be confident that they will achieve their ambition.”