happeningskidsteens When? December 6-9 | Event? Guys and Dolls Musical | Venue? St. Christopher’s School
When? December 2 Event? Drawing competition Venue? Al A’ali Shopping Complex Let kids get in touch with their creative sides and see Bahrain through their eyes. E Call 17 825-757. When? December 3 Event? Bahrain Junior Open Venue? Royal Golf Club Kids can try out their golf swing in some friendly competition. E Call 17 750-777. When? December 3 Event? Under-12 soccer tournament Venue? Arsenal Soccer School The really young kids have a chance to show their skills. E Call 17 561-615.
Broadway Comes to Bahrain The musical that took Broadway by storm in 1950 will be brought back to life by the students of St. Christopher’s School as they sing their hearts out to Guys and Dolls. Following their widely successful take on Les Miserables, the talented group of students at St. Christopher’s School have opted for something a little more comedic and will be taking to the stage next month with arguably one of the biggest musical productions ever created, Guys and Dolls. Having started rehearsals for the musical in September, the production team has upped the ante with 50 cast members on stage and a further 200 supporting other major aspects of the show including the backstage crew, orchestra and hair and makeup. The audition process was a vital stage to the show’s success. Music director Ken Haggarty has been precise in selecting the right actors, paying attention to the chemistry between the lead characters, their sense of comedic timing and the ability to hold a melodic line. The famous lead roles of Sarah Brown, Sky Masterson, Adelaide and Nathan Detroit will be played by Palmyra Matner, Alexander Farrell, Robyn Durnford and Ellis Cowling respectively. As the internationally-known musical was a show written for adults, the students had to face the challenge of maintaining a physical and emotional maturity to pull it off. “The other big challenge was the sheer number of rehearsals. To produce a
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professional performance takes a lot of work; there are no short cuts to success,” says Ken. The team have left no stone unturned and no detail missed. The principal actors had to work hard on their New York accents and the crew went all out on the stage sets. The stage scenery were specifically built for the show and construction commenced in May; costumes were also no exception as each was individually made and tailored to truly capture the nature of the 1940’s New York period. “The set looks fantastic and there actually are a few surprises for the audience!” exclaims Ken. The show will last for two hours, consisting of a traditional mix of dialogue, dance and music with a total of 30 songs performed. Reaching new heights every year with their productions, the St. Christopher’s annual musical events have rightfully become a fixture in the Kingdom’s performance calendar. “We’re content to add to Bahrain’s performance reputation by staging a show that is for the whole island, not just for our school. Audiences who saw our production of Les Miserables will appreciate that we aim to entertain everyone in the community. Guys and Dolls will be a fun, uplifting and entertaining night out, for the whole family,” explains Ken. The production team includes music directors Ken Haggarty and Billy Goldring, director Tony Thomas, producer Gillie van der Eyken and choreographer Kathryn Beck. E Call 17 788-101.
When? December 6-9 Event? Musical Venue? St Christopher’s School Get the full Broadway experience with this adaptation of Guys and Dolls. E Call 17 788-101. When? December 9 Event? BSPCA Charity Cup Venue? Arsenal Soccer School A festive fund-raiser for teams with under-10s and under-12 ages. E Call 17 561-615. When? December 10 Event? Children’s Christmas party Venue? The British Club The kids can dance and party the day away in celebration of Christmas. E Call 17 728-245.
When? December 17 Event? Junior tournament Venue? Royal Golf Club The little ones take to the course in celebration of National Day. E Call 17 750-777. When? December 18-22 Event? Winter kid’s camp Venue? Studio Ceramics Keep the kids arty and occupied this holiday at this seasonal craft week. E Call 17 599-026.