Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber born 1948
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber
The second of our creative ideas for the Easter Holidays is based on the work of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.
We have always had a strong tradition of music and musical theatre as a way of relaxing and enjoying ourselves at Linaker Primary School. Who can forget when Lower KS2 went to see The Greatest Showman and of all the different schools at the cinema, it was the children of Linaker who could sing along with great gusto thanks to the efforts of Mrs Thomas. As well as the singing assemblies, music lessons, trips to Young Voices, singing in Spanish in the Festival and performing in the community there have also been Christmas and end of year productions. This has included Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat which is one of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's most famous musicals and which was a resounding success when it was performed in Southport. He was only 19 when he composed it!
His musicals have attracted audiences around the globe over long periods of time. They are different in theme from presidents of Argentina, to the story of Easter Week and from poems about cats to performing on roller skates. He continues to support music in schools through his charity work and owns the Really Useful Theatre Company. However, it is only through the current period of staying at home that I have seen him playing his songs on his piano at home with his dog interrupting him that I realised what a talented pianist he is. One of the most moving videos I have seen is on YouTube where members of the orchestra for Phantom of the Opera all sent him videos of them playing All I Ask of You in isolation and they have put the video of them all together playing with Sir Andrew.
As well as his daily song playing on YouTube they are showing one of his shows online for free for 48 hours for free at The Shows Must Go On.
Update on 17/4/20. This weekend I will be tuning in as it is a show I have never yet seen. It was due to come to Manchester this summer and as we all know theatres are all closed so this is the closest we might get. The show is The Phantom of the Opera and it has some very catchy tunes in with some very high notes too.
Below I include links for further information about Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. As it is not a working week but you might want ideas I have also taken the theme of Cats (one of his musicals) to include creative activities. This is based on the poems of TS Eliot and there are lots of examples available of the poems being read and performed.
My final recommendation for Year 2 and above (and we are never too old to read it) is the excellent book Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine - it always makes me smile.