East Midlands Region

‘STEEL’ (A community Project)

After many months of hard work and rehearsals the big day came and over 180 students and adults from our community appeared at the Royal Concert Hall in the production ‘Steel’

‘Steel’ is the latest production from Science on Stage, and tells the story of an iron atom’s search for oxygen and their final union in the form of rust Science on stage consists of two local writers, both from the Arnold Hill School and Technology College, Nottingham who have spent the last decade or so presenting some quite meaty scientific concepts in the form of music and dance. Dave quick is the scientist and he creates the words whilst Jon Wakefield creates the music. This is the most ambitious production so far and has a huge number of contributing groups including:

• Arnold Hill School and Technology College
  ‘In Accord’ (Chamber Choir)
  Flying High (Local school of Dance and Drama)
  Sandra Taylor School of Dance
  The Carlton Digby School (For students with severe learning difficulties)

Pupils from the following junior schools:

• Mapperly Plains
  Arno Vale
  Willow Farm
  Heathfield
  Ernhale Junior
  and Ernhale Infants School.

Plus the local rock band ‘Stiff Legged Derrick’

Steel was made possible by generous grants from the Arts Council, The Arnold Local Area Forum and  Nottingham Steel, a local company.

The day began with not a small amount of drama in the form of a heavy snow fall, which delayed the set up time in the concert hall by a couple of hours. Nevertheless sound and light teams battled against the clock and pupils familiarised themselves with the dressing rooms with great excitement and after a very hectic dress rehearsal went home for tea!

The show went like clockwork and the capacity audience responded enthusiastically to some stunning performances by the cast.

After a couple of weeks rest the performers rehearsed again in preparation for an even bigger day in London where they performed at the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Four coaches were used to travel from Arnold Hill School On April 10th. There were a few bleary eyes the following morning, which soon disappeared, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Information and other productions from ‘Science on Stage’ can be obtained from Jon Wakefield  Tel 0115 9606236, or e-mail;  jonwakefield@burlington.fsnet.co.uk