Bringing Local History to Life
Our Year 12 Performing Arts students recently took part in the Coalville Theatre Festival, where they performed an original site specific piece inspired by the history of Snibston Colliery.
Titled Coalville, the performance was created as part of their Cambridge Technical Performing Arts course and explored the life of a miner. Drawing inspiration from Gary Clarke’s acclaimed production COAL, students combined drama, dance and singing to tell the story of a community shaped by the mining industry and the people who worked within it.
Since February, the group have been planning and rehearsing the piece, developing not only their performance skills but also their understanding of local heritage. The project gave students the opportunity to build relationships with local organisations and engage with the history of an important site in the Coalville community.
Performed on location at Snibston Colliery, the production received a powerful response from audiences. Many commented on how moving the performance was, with the piece reminding local residents of family members and generations connected to the mining industry.
The students' work was also praised by theatre practitioners and education professionals attending the festival, including representatives from De Montfort University and OCR. Their level of performance was celebrated, while organisers and representatives from the heritage site expressed their appreciation for the way students had brought local history to life through theatre.
The project has provided an invaluable opportunity for students to apply their learning in a real‑world context while also developing confidence. Following the success of the performance, the group will also present a shorter version of Coalville at the upcoming Lionheart Fringe Festival.
We are incredibly proud of our students, who represented The Castle Rock School brilliantly and demonstrated the power of the performing arts to connect people with their local history.
