In the tradition of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, there were certainly some strange things afoot in the Sports Hall in the last week of term, as the Senior Production transported the audience through time to the Churcher’s College of days gone by. 

'1722: The Musical' told the story of two spirited contemporary students, Fin and Theo, who are set a research project into the history of the College as punishment for causing serious disruption to their lesson. This is when something magical happens; their weighty historical tome opens a portal into scenes from College life through history, from the original declaration of Richard Churcher’s will, through to 2023, where history is about to repeat itself! Key moments in Churcher’s history, the gifting of the site at Ramshill in 1881, the harrowing experiences of too many Churcher’s boys in the trenches of the First World War and the admission of girls to the Sixth Form in the 1980s, all contribute to teach Fin and Theo some valuable lessons and they are returned to the present day having learned the true value of education. 

Accompanied by a musical score of chart-topping hits that perfectly complemented the storyline, this really was a tour de force for our performers. The audience swiftly moved from laughter to tears and back again, empathising with the young Elizabeth whose partner is sent off to fight in the Great War, with 1980s Sarah who wants to push beyond her class boundaries and with the young Victorian girls whose academic ambitions have been fuelled by the new Education Act. 

A huge congratulations to all involved!