On Friday evening I attended the Dundee Rep to see 'Return to the Hidden Planet' which is the latest lively and thoroughly entertaining musical from Dundee Schools' Music Theatre (DSMT). The show loosely draws on Shakespeare's The Tempest and inserts some well known pop songs and dancing. These song and dance routines were led by some outstanding singers and dancers. It was brilliant.DMST uniquely draws its performers from all of Dundee's nine secondary schools. This particular performance featured the Back to Back company of young people whom I recognised from some of the previous shows. There are three other DMST companies that feature
pupils from first year pupils in Secondary School to the fifth and sixth formers. Each of the four groups rehearse for an annual production whose quality and professionalism we have come to appreciate and celebrate. Next week (25-28 August 2010) it's the turn of S3 and S4 pupils who will be performing Godspell at The Space at the Kingsway Campus of Dundee College.I am very proud of our Dundee Schools' Music Theatre, particularly the way it fosters and showcases learning through dance, singing, acting and stage management. It has proved to be a tremendous vehicle for building the confidence and skills of many of our secondary school pupils from across the city.
I hope that at the Education Committee on Monday evening, the Convener, Liz Fordyce, will confirm that our celebrated Dundee Schools' Music Theatre is not on her list of proposed cuts in Education in the City.
