Hebburn pupils load up splurge guns for production of Bugsy Malone

School kids splattered each other with splurge guns as they brought a famous musical to the stage.
Fat Sam and his gang. Back, from left, Abby Buftain, Alex Johnson, Christina Love. Middle: Liam Millican as Fat Sam. Front, Grace McAdam, left, and Toni Leigh Lugg.Fat Sam and his gang. Back, from left, Abby Buftain, Alex Johnson, Christina Love. Middle: Liam Millican as Fat Sam. Front, Grace McAdam, left, and Toni Leigh Lugg.
Fat Sam and his gang. Back, from left, Abby Buftain, Alex Johnson, Christina Love. Middle: Liam Millican as Fat Sam. Front, Grace McAdam, left, and Toni Leigh Lugg.

Pupils at Hebburn Comprehensive School turned gangster as they put on a production of Bugsy Malone.

Around 500 people visited the school, in Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, to see the musical based on the exploits of real-life gangsters in 1920s New York.

Dandy Dan's Gang. From left, Nathan Smith, Logan Winton and Jack Carmichael.Dandy Dan's Gang. From left, Nathan Smith, Logan Winton and Jack Carmichael.
Dandy Dan's Gang. From left, Nathan Smith, Logan Winton and Jack Carmichael.
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More than 100 pupils were involved in the show, from production and choreography to building the set and playing in the band.

The show was directed by teachers Richard Bowman and Steven Longstaff and produced by Steven Wilkinson.

Mr Bowman said: “We wanted a whole-school feel to the production.

“We have a lot of talented pupils in the school, not to mention the staff, and we wanted to utilise their skills in every way to really make something the school can be proud – and we think we have achieved that.”

Hebburn Comprehensive School's production of Bugsy Malone.Hebburn Comprehensive School's production of Bugsy Malone.
Hebburn Comprehensive School's production of Bugsy Malone.
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Mr Wilkinson added: “Pupils from every year group have been involved in the production and there are some fantastic performances on stage.

“To take something we had as an idea in September and then to see it turn into a show like this has been an amazing achievement – the pupils and staff have done a truly phenomenal amount of work to get this show this dynamic.”

The school, which prides itself on having strong links with the local community, invited residents from care homes to see the show.

Mr Longstaff said: “We advertised around Hebburn and the surrounding area and this seems to have really paid off.

Lauren Duff as Blousey.Lauren Duff as Blousey.
Lauren Duff as Blousey.
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“We have received all sorts of help from other schools and organisations such as the Sage Academy and we can’t thank them enough for the opportunity it has given our pupils.

“We also ran a competition with local primary schools to encourage younger pupils to be involved in the production.”