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I'm writing the morning after a night that I will never forget.
To say people were proud of you is a massive understatement. Your parents love you, and whatever positive things you do at school and in your life, they will always be proud of you. But last night you put on a performance that, given your age, would have made Andrew Lloyd Webber himself proud.
And as for your teachers and staff - you may feel at times that we nag you or get on your back but remember this - each and every one of us cares for you as individuals and we want you to achieve the very best that you can. Last night you did that - you put on a complex and technical West End production that in parts wouldn't have looked out of place on the professional stage. And you made it your own. And you're 10 and 11 years old!
For me, your production brought back many memories of when I used to act as a child. In fact, your performance was truly on another level compared to anything I've been in myself. But as a director, I have enjoyed every minute of this. I have been singing along to every song; I have been going through all of the emotions in the play; I have laughed and I was very close to crying. Very close! So thank you for the gift you have given me. You pushed beyond your comfort zone. You learned to sing. You learned to dance. You learned to act. You were patient. You were never satisfied when you knew you could do better. You were amazing. It is a gift that I, along with everyone in that hall will hold in their hearts for a very long time.
It would be impossible of me to pick out individuals because it was a show that involved everyone for the duration. You were never out of the gaze of the audience. But I did watch the audience through the show. Needless to say, there was a sea of proud parents and grandparents wiping their eyes, genuinely moved to tears by your performance. There was much laughter. There was a parent who punched the air with her fist every time her daughter said a line. There was a certain Pharaoh's parents who turned around to me in stunned disbelief!
And of course there was a standing ovation - and that's never happened.
So now as we move on, and Joseph becomes Hollie, and the King becomes Max once more, always remember - you rocked it last night. You have all grown so much in confidence as well as talent and you put on a performance that none of us would have dreamed you could do three months ago.
In a few short weeks, you'll be leaving your cosy surroundings at Barlby CP and taking your next steps in the world as you go to high school. As you take that step, you can hold your heads high and know that you can achieve anything. You have showed us that in the most extraordinary way.