Wednesday 22 February 2023 An all-star cast of primary and secondary teachers put on a purrrrfect performance of Dick Whittington in January, kicking off GSAL’s very own Year of Culture 2023. Performing arts are always in the spotlight at GSAL but, as one of the official supporters of Leeds 2023 Year of Culture, we’re determined to make even more of a scene about music, theatre and performance. And what better way to begin than with a hilarious and, err, unique interpretation of one of Pantoland’s finest shows? An appreciative crowd of GSAL students and families, former staff and alumni packed out the assembly hall for three nights, laughing, cheering and booing in all the right places. Highlights included Dick (Katie Harpin-Lawrence) and Alice’s (Anna Rusbatch) romantic rendition of Frozen’s ‘Love is an Open Door’, plus standout performances by Paul Rushworth and Gwen Veitch as the shop owner Aldy-Man and a stylish cat with attitude respectively. There were laidback Mancunian puns from the King of Salford (John Bagshaw), villainous rats played with perfect comic timing by Paul Morris and Lewis Butcher (King Rats) and Chris Dodd and Chloe Griggs (Boris and Liz – any resemblance to real life persons is purely coincidental…) – all topped off with a rousing S Club 7 dance finale. The biggest laughs this year went to Dame Sally (Jon Tyndall), nor forgetting his three sporting (and long-suffering) foils in the audience. We suspect Mr Tyndall’s Maths lessons may never be the same again… Special thanks are due to writer, director and Master of Slapstick, Simon Knowles, who delighted the audience with his performance as Idle Jack – oh yes he did! Mr Knowles has been involved in every staff panto since his debut in Jack and the Beanstalk in 1995, which featured Headmaster Bryan Collins alongside Peter Jolly as the Dame. This year, Simon’s enthusiastic cast included a number of former Leeds Grammar School teachers: Paul Morris, Paul Rushworth, Suzy Rounce, Kerry Kurczj, Leanne Sutheran and Rachel Purcell. GSAL’s talented student band, the camel, choreographer Donna Woodman, technical director Tina Nutt and her backstage team also deserve plenty of praise and thanks. Without everyone’s efforts, we simply couldn’t have raised the £5000 we did for chosen charities My Name’5 Doddie and Smart Works Leeds. And if Dick Whittington has got you shouting for an encore, keep your eyes peeled for more cultural and arts events this year: next up, the senior school production of Les Miserables School Edition on 26-28 March! Pictured: Jon Tyndall, Simon Knowles, Paul Morris, Paul Rushworth and Anna Rusbatch Pictured: The cast of the GSAL Staff Panto 2023 General Alumni News Arts Community
