PACKED OUT AUDIENCES AND RAVE REVIEWS FOR TREASURE ISLAND PRODUCTION

Carisbrooke College and Medina College student casts have performed their dynamic versions of the ‘Treasure Island’ pantomime.

Carisbrooke College took on the lead roles on Tuesday, 29th March; Medina took the lead on Thursday, 30 March. Both performances played to packed-out audiences and received rave reviews. The two schools have worked collaboratively on the productions since September 2021.

The characters were over the top in true pantomime style and used song and dance to lead the audience on a pirate adventure to the sunny Caribbean. The story of the pantomime follows the famous Long John Silver, his parrot Polly, and a gang of pirates who set sail in search of buried treasure in the Caribbean. Jim Hawkins and Jenny Trelawney strive to outwit the wily seadogs with the help of Jim’s mum and her friends from the local Women’s Institute.

IWEF Teacher, Ed Jager, who was in the audience for the performances, says:

“The panto was incredible – I thoroughly enjoyed it! I know how nervous some of the cast must have been, but absolutely none of it showed through at all. I was sat in the very back row and could hear every line delivered confidently – including the ad-libbing.

“It was fantastic for me personally to see some of my quieter and more shy students come out of their shells into leading roles and absolutely owning their space and time in the limelight on stage. If you had told me the year group and age of some of the actors/actresses, I just wouldn’t have believed you.

Matthew Parr-Burman, Executive Headteacher for the Isle of Wight Education Federation said:

“Treasure Island gave our students the opportunity to work together as a team, and it has been fantastic to see them bonding and developing new relationships. Since rehearsals began, we have seen the confidence of every student involved soar, and it has been fantastic to witness this. I am incredibly proud of the students – they are all stars of the future!”

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Karen Begley, Executive Deputy Headteacher and Head of Carisbrooke College, has said:

“I was immensely proud of all of the cast and crew. They did a fantastic job! I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Huge thanks to the staff who have given up their time to make the production happen and to the families and local businesses who supported us with props and costumes.”