The recent Music Box Summer Drama project was a great success with 37 children and young people taking part in two spectacular musical productions performed at the Stewarton Area Centre.

In each of two separate weeks, one for children aged 5 - 10, the other for young people aged 10 and over, the young actors had only five sessions in which to learn their parts, their songs and routines before the performance.

Senior Drama Week ran from Monday 12 to Friday 16 July. The fifteen actors rehearsed a musical entitled 'The Seven Sided Dice' by Mike Smith. Lisa Costigan, Natasha Allen, Ben Allen and Cameron Martin played four children transported to Game Land from where the only escape was to beat Lady Fortune (Chloe Hume) and her trusty companion Fat Chance (Ross Davidson) at games.

Having lost one brother at Snakes and Ladders the children promptly lost another at Space Invaders trying to help Princess Tika and the Space Troopers (Shannon Gilchrist, Graeme Ferguson and Amy McAughtrie) save the universe. Then, after encounters with Estate Agents, Fleet Street news reporters and Four Proud Stationmasters (James McDougall, Shannon Gilchrist, Matthew Allison, Sarah McDougall and Sarah Allison) the remaining children ended up being sent to jail - do not pass go, do not collect £200!

In the second half they were given a 'Get out of Jail Free card' courtesy of their secret helper Ill Luck (Ross Legatt) before successfully solving the mystery in Cluedo and eventually winning their freedom in a game of Chess.

All 15 actors (including Christina Ritchie who was only able to join the group for the last two days) worked extremely hard, playing chorus rolls as well as main characters. They successfully brought together a complex story with songs and dances with only 5 rehearsals.

The following week was Junior Drama Week during which 22 children worked on their production of Oink, A Pig of a Tale by Craig Hawes. Loosly based on the tale of The Three Little Pigs this musical production was filled with humour and enjoyable songs.

Without exception, the children worked really hard learning lines, songs and dances and their performance at the Area Centre on Friday 23 July was a memorable one.

The young stars (in alphabetical order) were Rebekah Betts, Mia Burns, Callum Dowden, Oliver Dowden, Zara Duncan, Megann Ferguson, Lia Gass, Sophie Gillies-Craig, Daniel Glasswell, Eilidh Gough, Blake Hannah, Morgan Hannah,Danny Harvey, Beth Irvine, Jonathan Irvine, Teagan Neish, Hannah Reid, Faye Ronald, Erin Rowley, Jamie Smith, Natalie Smith and Ben Wardrop.

Naomi Allison was assisted in Senior Drama week by Lydia Breaks and in Junior Drama Week by Ashley Snaddon and Aimee Ronald (and a team of family members who arrived just in time to help with the performance). Linette Penney created the scenery and Martin Ritchie provided sound and lighting for each show.

You can see more photos at The Music Box online Photo Album:

Oink - a Pig of a Tale

The Seven Sided Dice

The new Music Box term begins on Friday 27 August with classes running every Friday during term time. The next show will be a Music and Drama Class production on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 December.

Provisional dates for next year's summer drama project are:

Junior Drama Week Monday 18 to Friday 22 July;

Senior Drama Monday 25 to Friday 29 July with a second performance on Saturday 30 July.

For more information about any Music Box activies visit The Music Box webpage, email The Music Box or telephone Naomi Allison on 01560 482593.