Worksop theatre company youngsters star in joyful signing song

Children from a Worksop theatre company have starred in an uplifting music video - singing while signing the lyrics in Makaton.
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Forty-seven young drama students along with 19 parents took part in the colourful footage - singing When A Rainbow Fills The Sky from musical Splash.

Hayla Hawes, a director at The Young Theatre Company, told how children had five days to learn the sign language for their parts before recording them onto video.

They were then edited and spliced together to create the cheerful footage.

The entire company during their 25th anniversary showThe entire company during their 25th anniversary show
The entire company during their 25th anniversary show

In the adorable video children can be seen signing the lyrics while singing from bedrooms and living rooms at home.

Then the video cuts to a scene which shows a montage of all the individual videos as everyone involved sings the chorus together.

Mum-of-two Hayla described the tune - written by playwright husband Craig for his musical Splash - as ‘a very apt song at the moment’.

She said: “The children and adults loved singing it and learning the Makaton to go with it - the feedback we’ve had from parents afterwards was that it’s gone down well.

Youngsters sing the chorus in unisonYoungsters sing the chorus in unison
Youngsters sing the chorus in unison

“We are all incredibly proud of the finished video and it’s been so nice to see the kids because we miss them so much.”

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Halya said the company were due to perform a show at Worksop’s Acorn Theatre which had to be cancelled - adding ‘this has given them a project to get their teeth into and perform again’.

The 27-year-old theatre company is using the video to appeal for donations to Bassetlaw Food Bank.

Hayla said: “There’s so much fundraising for the NHS at the moment and of course they need it but there are so many other groups that need help.

People are struggling so much right now - we wanted to give something to a local charity and the food bank is such a vital lifeline for so many, now even more than ever.”

To make a donation to The Young Theatre Company’s crowdfunding campaign for Bassetlaw Food Bank click HERE.

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