Well today seen HRH Queen Elizabeth II open the new Queen Margaret University Campus in Musselburgh.

Knox Academy were honoured to be invited to the opening and we took six members of our student council to the State visit. Representing Knox were our Head Boy, Head Girl, Deputy Head Boy, A representive from 4th year, 3rd year and 2nd year and were accompanied by Ms Duff (PT Citizenship) and myself. I think I am correct in saying we were the only school representing East Lothian. The pupils were brilliant and really looked great in their Dress code and made their first public outing as the new student council at Knox. I’m sure the Queen was happy!

In previous posts I have spoken of the great work the final year students of the Drama and Theatre Arts course have done with the Drama pupils at Knox in the Mussel-In project. Today seen their efforts recongised as they performed right in front of HRH Queen Elizabeth (she was sitting in the front row and one wrong kick from dancing chip man in the play could have caused damaged!)

It’s not everyday you get to perform for Royalty and the pupils from Knox Academy shone in their role and the Queen seemed to enjoy it giving them a round of applause after their production.

I would like to thank once again the Students from QM who have worked so hard with our pupils, thank you. I would also like to thank every Knox pupil who represented their school today on stage or off. We may not all be Royalists but at least this is a memory we won’t forget.

(on a different note… very sad to be back as an ex graduate knowing that the school of Drama is no more but also interesting to see that most visual displays were all from the School of Drama! mmm interesting!)

As you have read in my previous post; pupils created an Award Winning Drama with Students from Queen Margaret University. The Mussell-Inn project has been an amazing opportunity for our pupils and they have gained a lot from the experience.

As a school, Knox Academy, has created a great relationship with the people running the project and has been great, as an ex graduate, to see the excellent work of the tutors continue in this difficult time (see No room for the arts).

We recieved good news on Friday that our students will be performing the award winning Drama for the Queen on July 4th. Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II will open the University and she has asked to see the Drama. This is a great expereince for our young people and they are very excited about the opportunity to act infront of her.

Well after an amzing Christmas (hope you all had a great time) I took a wee visit to the Royal Lyceum Theatre tonight to see ‘The Wizard of Oz’. I had heard a lot of exciting things about this production and had been dying to see it for months. Lucky for me a friend had a spare ticket as the show is virtually sold out.

With a main cast of nine they retold the wonderful story of the girl who traveled far from home to kill the wicked witch of the west. Directed by Gill Robertson, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, she used flair and imagination to tell this well known tale. Some personal favourites was the fact that sh used a puppet dog for Toto and it worked so well to the fact the children were waiting for him to appear. The actress playing Dorothy, Denise Hoey, really used her puppetry skills to bring the dog to life.

Denise has an incredible voice, she played Little Voice in Visable Fictions production of ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’, and she really made the part of Dorothy her own and appealing to all ages in the audience.

Gillian’s use of multimedia in various scenes to move the story along was genius and the tornado scene was brilliantly done.

I’ve seen Julie Austin in many things and took a course with her at Scottish Youth Theatreback in 1996 (I feel old writing this! lol) but I do have to say this was probably one of the best roles i have seen her in. Julie played the Wicked Witch of the West and had played the part with great timing and affect! She was a nasty yet loveable rogue! Credit to Julie here.

By the time Dorothy clicked her heals and said ‘there’s no place like home’ the smile across my face shone and for once I wasn’t looking at my watch to check the time. I could have seen it all over again.

The run ends on Sunday and although it says SOLD OUT on the website you may be able to get returns. What a joyous way to end my theatrical year. Well done! (i’m now starting to think… can we do this at Knox! lol)