BSB Insider: ‘We Need to Talk About Keytars’

Of course, for every peak there is a trough and the introduction of more restrictions and regulations meant that as the year ended, the school’s Christmas festivities were under threat. But once again, the BSB spirit could not be dampened and creativity came to the fore, with staff and students pitching in to overcome the obstacles together and make the annual Christmas show a reality. Combining recorded performances from all year groups into one online production, the Christmas Concert in digital form was not only a heart-warming success but also another testament to the never-say-die attitude that fuels the BSB community in times of adversity.

This period was a time of realigning and rethinking. It was a challenging time that needed creativity – which BSB students and team have in spades. It built resilience and reflected the courageous nature of our whole community.

As the world and life returned to a sense of normalcy, and productions began to return to our stages in all their glory, BSB students and staff capped off a joyful artistic resurgence with wonderful and life-affirming performances of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol in late November 2021 and Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book in May the following year.

Young actors from Years 10-13 presented Dickens’ festive tale to a rapt audience of enchanted parents, bringing the tale of redemption, love and compassion set in the dark, winter days of Victorian Britain, to life with great energy and boundless enthusiasm. As with most productions over the previous two years, it almost did not happen. In Autumn 2020, the production team hesitantly started out on their production journey, only to find our path quickly barred, at the discussion stage, by the health restrictions. But in 2021, as the situation started to improve, the students and staff gathered fresh and began again, fully supported by the school’s leadership team. The mood amongst all involved, from the very first audition to the last crew member who joined the team, was one of determination. They were committed to making it happen, that this time the young actors would return to the stage.

And what a return it was. The production, the first time the school had been able to hold a cross-ages Secondary school production since 2019, was a triumph.

The recovery was completed in May 2022 when our sumptuous production of The Jungle Book hit the stage in the Brel Theatre. With explosive colours and action, and with actors from Years 7-9 performing out of their skins, the audience was treated to an exotic and magical interpretation of Kipling’s enchanting coming-of-age story. It was truly captivating event which proved that productions and performance were truly back at BSB.

It had been a rollercoaster journey but true to BSB’s Guiding Statements, which talk about being caring, being confident, and being courageous, our students, staff, parents overcame incredible odds by living these attributes and being those values in action.

Everyone should be proud of what was achieved as a team during these trying times. Everyone showed so much flexibility and desire to help. The strength of our roots as a community enabled us to grow again, rebuild collaborative trust and create new energy. We are forever grateful for everyone who helped us do so.