Level 1 Performing Arts students delivered powerful readings of The Charge of the Light Brigade and The Fallen. Yeter, Celeste, Freddie, and Charlie performed the first reading, while Josh, Madison, and Emily brought The Fallen to life. Their thoughtful performances conveyed both emotion and the realities of conflict, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
Lucy then delivered a powerful speech about community, remembrance, and solidarity. She spoke of a double-sided French and Belgian flag on display at Hereford Town Hall, which commemorates Hereford’s role as the first city in the UK to welcome Belgian refugees during the First World War.
Lucy also reflected on Hereford’s continued tradition of hospitality and support, noting the city’s more recent friendship agreement with Zhytomyr in Ukraine. Together, these examples demonstrated how Hereford has long been a welcoming city that stands alongside communities affected by conflict.
The students had been working on their performances for weeks. Performing Arts teacher Debs Burrows said:
‘We’ve been developing our ideas and rehearsing since October, meeting twice a week. We wanted to create more than just a reading, so we explored ways of incorporating movement and percussion into each performance.
‘We thought carefully about the audience experience and how rhythm, tone, and pace could help bring the words to life. Emily even whistled a few bars of Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.’
As part of their research, Debs also took the students to The Courtyard Theatre to watch the film Pressure, helping them explore themes of remembrance and gain a deeper understanding of the impact of war. For some, it was their first opportunity to engage with these stories, helping them appreciate the scale of the sacrifices made and the lives lost.
The students reflected on their performances afterwards.
Celeste said:
‘Performing in front of an audience always makes me nervous, but I feel like it went really well.’
Madison added:
‘At first, I felt so nervous. All that nervousness was building up in my chest, but I kept telling myself that I was in charge. Afterwards, I couldn’t believe I’d done it.’
Emily was delighted that she remembered all of her lines and successfully took on the challenge of whistling during the performance. She said, ‘I had to practise, practise, practise because I didn’t know the tune at first!’
Josh said:
‘It took me a while to learn all the words, but I’m really pleased with how it went.’
The performances, together with Lucy’s reflections on community, created a fitting tribute to those who have served and sacrificed. The event not only remembered the past but also reinforced the importance of supporting one another and extending compassion to those affected by conflict today.