Bournville School Talent Showcase: Talented young performers, from Bournville School, put on an unforgettable night of poetry, pop and plays in Bournville school’s most eclectic Talent Showcase yet.
After months of rehearsals, parents finally got to see their children take centre stage, in front of a packed hall on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 January.
Bournville All-Through School, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, saw pupils attend extracurricular clubs and rehearsals after school, to ensure the show was a success.
Karen Brown, who has been the Curriculum Leader for Drama for the last 20 years, said: “Extra-curricular experiences, both in rehearsal and when recognised and rewarded by such enthusiastic audiences, certainly make memories for life.
“Through working on their performances and entertaining the audience, pupils developed self-esteem, confidence and pride, while also learning how to work together as a team.
“Our students performed amazingly, and we’re all so proud of each and every one of them.”
The school band kicked off the show with a lively jam, before returning to the stage to close the show with Teenage Kicks by the Undertones, which had the audience singing along.
Solo singers chose a wide range of songs to perform, including Zombie by the Cranberries, Hopelessly Devoted To You by Olivia Newton-John, Such A Funny Way by Sabrina Carpenter and Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.
Ophelia Langsdown, 11, said: “I’m singing Zombie by the Cranberries because I like the lyrics. They’re sad and powerful.”
The Bournville choir had audiences enthralled with a beautiful performance of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know.
Excellent dance routines were performed by solo dancers Ruby Dima, Elsie Ryder, Lisa Mukwende and Isla-Rose Gwynne-Reynolds; and a dance duet comprised of Azaliah York and Scarlett Hill.
Ruby, 9, said: “I’m a dancer and an actor. I’m doing the bodyguard dance from The Next Step. I’m dancing with my sister which is fun.”
Elsie said: “I started preparing my dance routine in December and it was exciting to perform.”
Some children got involved backstage, with Year 10 and 11 GCSE drama students working on sound and lighting, while Orion Williams was compere for the night, introducing the young performers with flair.
The intermission even featured video footage of talented Year 1 pupil Micah Dima showing off impressive trampoline tricks.
The highlight of the evening was a showstopping performance of three excerpts from Beowulf, with the adapted script putting an interesting twist on the classic, epic poem.
Miss Brown said: “Our version of Beowulf is structured as a play within a radio play, which added a new dimension for our young actors to work with. They’ve handled the material so well – I’ve been very impressed with them.”
There were a range of roles for students to take on in Beowulf, from character roles and sound effects to backstage work and lighting.
Jackson Allen, 13, said: “I play Damien, who is acting as Beowulf. It’s challenging because I have to think how both characters would act. He has an ego and gets angry easily, so I get to do a fight scene.”
Desmond Rufus, 9, said: “I play Neville. I make sound effects and it’s really fun. I get to burp on command!”
Sophie Pardoe, 13, said: “I’m playing Jane, a radio producer. I was recommended for the role by Miss Brown, and I got used to it by reading the script.”
Principal Marie Rooney said: “We are so proud of the students who performed in the Bournville School Talent Showcase – they put on a fantastic performance which had something for everyone.
“There was so much talent and creativity on the stage, and the audience clearly really enjoyed it.
“Events like this require real commitment from the students, as well as resilience, helping them to develop important life skills that are part of Bournville’s Personal Development Curriculum.”
Bournville School Talent Showcase 2026
