Show goes online for high school putting on virtual Christmas celebration

Dancers from Bedford High School in Leigh

The event is on a massive scale, with around 500 people involved and the high school teaming up with local primary schools, nursing homes and day centres.

is also a celebration of culture in a year in which the arts have faced considerable adversity because of the novel coronavirus.

The show is also for a good cause as all proceeds are going to The Bridge at Leigh, which is running a Christmas toy appeal and distributing food hampers to local families.

Dancers who will be taking part in the virtual Christmas show

Head of the arts faculty at Bedford High School Janet Madden said: “Our Christmas concert at Bedford is an annual event but this year we’re bringing it to the virtual world.

“We’ve got about 500 students taking part and it’s a mixture of singing, dancing, music and artwork that will be shown throughout the concert.

“We’ve had to do rehearsals in year group bubbles and also online with children learning their dance moves or song at home.

“My colleague Sarah Stafford has then been putting all the footage together. She has been working long hours.

“It’s going to be very emotional. Some of the videos have brought tears to the eyes. It’s a way of ensuring the arts are not lost during this year of 2020.

“There are lots of humorous parts of the show as well alongside the tear-jerkers.”

Some of the most moving footage in the show involves residents in care homes and day centres having their pictures taken reading cards sent by Bedford pupils.

As well as the young people’s work the staff band at the Manchester Road high school has performed for the video concert.

Tickets are available to buy until Thursday (December 16). A link will then be emailed the following day to allow people to the view the film, which will be over an hour in length.

To find out more visit bedfordhighschool.co.uk/christmas-virtual-concert/

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