The Bord Gais Energy Student Theatre Award for Best Overall Show returns yet again to the Presentation Secondary School and Thurles, Co. Tipperary, for a second year in succession, with the secondary school’s ‘Billy Elliot’ score, following on from the previous years, ‘The Lion King’ musical.
Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The school’s students, together with their production team, led by Trisha McElgunn, Patrick Conlon and Mairead Hackett, were ‘over the moon’ this week on learning of their latest Musical Theatre Student Award; the show initially having been staged, playing to packed audiences, back during the Autumn of 2016.
‘Billy Elliot’ the musical is based on the 2000 film ‘Billy Elliot’. The original music is by English singer, pianist and composer Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, while lyrics are by author, playwright and screenwriter, Lee Hall.
The musicals story line revolves around a motherless Billy Elliot, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. It is about his personal struggle and eventual fulfilment; balanced against a story of both family and community strife; all contributed to by a Durham coalminers’ strike.
Each year, since its inception in 2013, Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards have encouraged, recognised, and rewarded student participation in the dramatic arts. It comes therefore as no surprise that to date some 1,000 schools from across Ireland have participated in these annual honours.
Hearty congratulations to all those participating.
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