Local schools shortlisted in Student Theatre Awards

By Aideen O’Flaherty

A NUMBER of local schools have been shortlisted in this year’s Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards, competing in categories such as best choreography and best musical number.

St. Aidan’s Community School in Brookfield in Tallaght has been shortlisted in the senior category for best musical number, for a rap written by a rap troupe in the school who go by the name of St Aidan’s Boyys.

There are five members in the group, who are all 2nd year students, whose original composition ‘Time’ attracted the attention of the competition judges.

“‘Time’ is about being true to yourself, working hard and taking opportunities as they come,” Martina Flynn from St Aidan’s CS told The Echo.

She added that when the boys found out that they were shortlisted for the competition “they were speechless, and so excited.”

“Everybody in the school is in shock [that they got this far], and we think it’s fantastic.

“We all know that the boys are brilliant.”

Ms Flynn added that the boys are excited about going to the awards ceremony, and will be donning their best sunglasses for the glittering event.

Elsewhere, St Gabriel’s Primary School in Ballyfermot has been shortlisted in the junior category for best choreography for their production of ‘Battle of the Decades’, which featured performances from 4th, 5th and 6th class students.

‘Battle of the Decades’ is set in a classroom, where a battle between the 80s and the 90s takes place.

The battle takes the form of dancing to competing chart hits from that decade, where the students choreographed dances to the likes of Riverdance and Britney Spears, with the help of their teachers Aoife Harte, Siobhan Byrne and Aisling Murphy.
Ms Murphy told The Echo: “There’s great excitement about making it to the finals of the competition.

“It’s such an honour, and there will a great buzz and atmosphere [at the awards].”

A number of other local schools have also been shortlisted in the competition, including St Aidan’s National School in Tallaght, St Pius X Boys’ National School in Terenure and St Joseph’s Boys’ National School in Templeogue.

The awards ceremony will take place in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Wednesday May 17.