Rocka 2002

 

 

 

   We made up for not entering in '01 by entering two teams this year, largely due to the incredible number of kids that wanted to take part :-) So...

Team A

   This was the original team made up of the older (and lets be honest better) dancers.  Their entry was called "Faces of Conflict" and dealt with progressively more and more aggressive issues; it arched as follows...A little girl portraying innocence is attacked by school bullies, then we see street violence, then terrorism and then, my favourite part, nuclear war (that bit just totally rocked - I wish I could show it here!) The soundtrack included a song by Madonna (something about "Babyface?"), Fight for your right to Party...or something, I know it when I hear it :-)  "The Montague Boys" from the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack Vol.2 and "Two Tribes" by Frankie goes to Hollywood for the nuclear attack - honestly, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about that bit - it was awesome...anyway, Team A came second place for the third year running (only first place makes it to the final) and won the award for Best Drama.   City of Portsmouth Girls School came first and went on to come third in the Southern Grand Final. 

   The Gang

 

Team B

   And then it was Team B's turn.  My team.  This was the entry that had to be created rather quickly when it was realised there were twice as many applicants than the school was allowed to take for just one team.  So my drama teacher suddenly found herself responsible for a whole team and I immediately jumped on board offering my experience.  I was drawn to this team, largely because my brother was on it, but also because I have a thing about supporting the under-dog.  Team A got all the publicity, most people at the school didn't know we existed, Team A got first rate costumes - we almost didn't get any.  We had to take and modify their set after they had used it and had to put up with "well if Team A couldn't win their heat Team B don't stand a chance."  There was about a week between heats.  Team B's theme, "Hand of Hope", was bullying again, but this time rather more sophisticated than the '97 entry.  It centred on a girl constantly looking for acceptance but always one step behind everyone else.  She is bullied and ignored, pushed to the extreme, and always being tormented by her two consciences.  Towards the end of the piece one other girl offers her friendship, the "Hand of Hope," but this gesture is still not enough, and when both the bullying gang and her other schoolmates deny her entry to the school gates the little girl looses it and pulls a gun on them.  As the shot is fired the one girl that offered her friendship knocks the gun away and saves every one, except her consciences, who fall away, no longer able to torment her.  The gang and schoolgirls file back into the school leaving the little girl and her friend alone on stage in a poignant frozen image of hope.   The soundtrack included "This Used to be My Playground" by Madonna, "Twisted" by Skunk Anansie, "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. and "I Don't Like Mondays" by The Boomtown Rats. 

   This entry was, I knew, the best I'd ever worked on and the kids tried so hard in spite of everything.  We won the awards for Best Set and Best Hair and Make-Up.  Then it came to the places; we were up against The Wavell School yet again (whose theme was "Destiny") - I was sure it was between us two for first place and they would most likely get it.  I will never forget till the day I die that moment when the whole team, all 60 or so of us, were crammed into our little dressing room, unable to fit into the auditorium, listening to the most feeble little speaker on Earth, straining to hear the results.  When Wavell was placed second I couldn't help but scream a little - I was one of the only ones who knew that they hadn't lost a competition in years if ever and if they hadn't won - who had? It seemed to take an eternity between; "and First Place goes to..."

 

 

 

 

 

Frogmore Community College!!!

 

   That's right everyone - the underdogs did what no one had ever done before at my school and made it to the Southern Grand Final! I tell you, if I ever had to make a Patronus, I'd have no problem with that memory :-)

 

 

 

 

The Consciences

 

 

The Little Girl and Her Consciences

 

 

 

 

 

My brother John - A Gang Member

 

 

 

 

 

Me and John in our team shirts at the interval

 

 

Two of our boys after we won :-)

 

 

   This was the first year Ryde High from the Isle of White had even been placed in a heat - and then they came first at the Southern Grand Final! Their show was amazing and was all about the Caped Crusader Batman - great fun!

The Penguin

Catwoman

Poison Ivy

 

   Click here to see the review I did for two of my university applications of the Southern Grand Final, which particularly focused on Ryde's entry.  (Which, by the way, effectively got me places on both courses, one of which I took, meaning I am now studying at the best institution for Film and Theatre in the country...thank you Rock Challenge!)

 

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