Pupils recreate 'perfect town' musical 100 years on

In a remarkable event, students from St Francis primary school in Oxford are set to perform a musical called 'Let's Build a Town,' which was originally created nearly a century ago. This performance will take place at St Edward's School at 6:00 PM GMT, and it promises to be a unique experience for both the performers and the audience. The musical tells a fascinating story about a town where children take charge, and there are no adults around. This concept allows the young performers to explore their ideas about what a perfect town would look like. The original musical was composed by Paul Hindemith, a German musician, and it first premiered in Berlin in 1930. The following year, in 1931, it was performed by schoolchildren in the Holywell Music Room in Oxford. Today's students have expressed their desires for their ideal town, wishing for 'clean air' and the ability to 'see the sunrise. ' These wishes reflect their awareness of environmental issues and their hopes for a better future. The performance is being organized by Music at Oxford, which collaborates with the University of Oxford's Cultural Programme to provide children with opportunities to express their thoughts and creativity through music and the arts. The original performance in 1931 was part of the annual festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music, which has been held since 1922. Dr. Giles Masters, a music historian and co-curator of the show, emphasizes the importance of listening to young people's voices. He stated, 'We felt that young people's perspectives and voices had been really overlooked,' highlighting the need for adults to consider the opinions of children, especially regarding the future they will inherit. Dr. Masters also pointed out the similarities between the 1930s and the 2020s in Oxford, as both periods are marked by significant changes. In the early 20th century, the city experienced a surge of new residents due to the expanding car industry. Today, Oxford faces similar challenges, such as determining where to build new housing and what kind of transportation infrastructure is necessary. The students will not only perform scenes from the original musical but will also showcase new music and theatrical elements they have created themselves. Three students from Oxford Spires Academy will join the performance, playing alongside professional musicians and university music students. Additionally, there will be 'performance games' inspired by Hindemith's original vision of encouraging creativity and confidence in children through play. Felicity Newby-Smith, the learning and participation manager at Music at Oxford, noted that the original performance may have lost some of its playful spirit. She expressed a desire to bring back that sense of fun and freedom for the children involved. According to her, society has become more accepting of children expressing themselves on stage, even if their performances are not flawless. The children are enthusiastic about their upcoming show, feeling proud of their singing and enjoying the process of learning new games. One student humorously mentioned that their least favorite part of the workshops is a song about a burglar, as it keeps replaying in their mind! When asked about their ideal town, the children's responses varied widely, with some wishing for 'clean air' and others suggesting the idea of 'getting rid of politicians. ' Dr. Masters concluded that this project is fostering new connections between the University of Oxford and the local community, allowing children to engage with important issues while having fun and expressing their creativity.