THE SAVOY SINGERS, based in Camberley, Surrey, are a leading and long-established amateur operatic society which prides itself on the excellence and professionalism of its productions. From Gilbert & Sullivan operas through operetta to the modern musical, the Savoy Singers performing at the Camberley Theatre, combine musical quality with innovative production.

It was very flattering to be invited back by Ravenscote Community Junior School in Frimley, to run a workshop on behalf of The Savoy Singers. Our present production - Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta, The Sorcerer - is great fun to perform and watch but does not lend itself to a workshop for schools as did HMS Pinafore and Pirates of Penzance.
After some discussion with the school, we decided to look at the work of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, a partnership we as a society had explored in our October 2011 Revue. The delightful melodies of carefully chosen songs from some of the musicals of this partnership are perfect for an end of term staged concert for the three choirs at Ravenscote. To support their project, we agreed on six out of all the musical numbers chosen for the end of term concert, to use in a workshop in February.
The new Head of Music and Creative Arts at Tomlinscote School and Sixth Form College, James Casselton, looking to make links with Ravenscote as one of Tomlinscote's feeder junior schools, agreed to open the workshop with "tonic solfa fun" to link with "Do-Re-Mi", one of the songs which will be featured from "The Sound of Music". Members of The Savoy Singers will then continue the day with a look at the unique partnership of Rodgers and Hammerstein; an exercise in writing new words for "My Favourite Things"; and making the most of the chosen songs with simple staging. Our Stage Manager kindly hinged our Rodgers & Hammerstein flats to be used to furnish the staging area both for the workshop day and the school's own end of term concert.
The day will finish with a joint presentation - school choirs and members of The Savoy Singers - which will demonstrate to the school the day's achievements. Geoff Horton is going to join us for that and sing for the presentation which should prove a real treat for the children. The choirs will then build on this to produce their own full presentation as an end of term staged concert in March.We shall be distributing Sorcerer flyers and hope some of the children and their parents will come to see "The Sorcerer" March 7th-10th, 2012. Links between Savoy Singers and local schools established in this way are a fun and exciting way to raise the profile of musical theatre for young people in our area. In my experience it is these innovations in the daily timetable of the school curriculum that children remember in later life.

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