Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School

This week the extremely talented cast at Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School performed Disney’s Little Mermaid JR. at the Memo Arts Centre, Barry.
This is a highly momentous occasion as it is the last school production for Bryn Hafren , with the upcoming closure in August this year .
The Head of Drama and director Alexandra Downey ( Williams) is extremely proud that she was the first to direct a full scale musical for the school back in 2006 when she started at Bryn Hafren and now she gets to say she has the honour of directing/ choreographing the last.
The extremely talented duo Mr Lewis Green ( Head of Music) and Miss Bryony Doyle took the role of musical directors for the production.
They worked tirelessly with the pupils to perfect the most beautiful harmonies that can only usually be achieved by professional performers.
Under the trusty baton of Mr Green they have the school orchestra, made up of pupils and teachers from the school. The revamped Music department at the school have strived to encourage and train pupils to be part of the orchestra after years of hiring professional musicians we can finally be proud that our pupils can live up to the role.
No production is complete without the assistance of Mr Jonathan Coombs who’s experience in theatre is second to none. Mr Coombs assisted with the production management but also had a cameo role in the musical as he can never stay away from the spotlight himself!
The stage manager Miss Lisa Kirker has worked solidly over the last few months , making props,organising the set and managing the stage crew on the shows themselves. The cast have relied on her expertise throughout the rehearsal process. With the huge impact of budget cuts the Drama and Music departments have had to fundraise for this production themselves via many events such as sambathons, Christmas carol concerts, Performing Arts showcases , various cake sales and a tuck shop. The five members of staff and the cast have fundraised every single penny for this production which is a huge achievement. The Little Mermaid Is a classic fairytale with great sentiment, a Mermaid with great aspirations , wanting to better herself and be part of the human world. Ariel’s ambition and drive is something we encourage with our pupils in the Drama and Music Departments at Bryn Hafren - anything is possible and that is evident in our past pupils great career choices and achievements.
The majority of the principal characters in this production are going on to study musical theatre or the performing arts at higher education. Future stars of the West End are certainly in the making here at Bryn Hafren.