Fiona Tannock (née Newbould, OH 1989-96) and Grace Hobson (OH 2013-23) have teamed up to use the love of music and theatre they developed at Hymers to raise funds within their local community. Together, they are putting on a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' and would love local children and young people to take part.

Both Fiona and Grace feel they greatly benefited from the musical opportunities they were exposed to whilst at Hymers, experiences that helped shape their current journeys.Reflecting on her time at school Grace said,

During my time at Hymers, the highlight of the year for me was always the shows. I loved the range of productions we staged, from Mary Poppins, where I played Mary, to Les Misérables. My final show at Hymers was Great Expectations, where I played Miss Havisham. The skills I developed through GCSE and A Level Drama gave me a really strong foundation, which I've been able to build on through further theatre training at university. The support and encouragement I received from the music and drama staff also played a huge part in helping me develop my confidence and skills as a performer.

After meeting through their local church and discovering a shared passion for music, drama and theatre, Grace came up with the idea for a community engagement project that would give young people the opportunity to take part in a world-class musical whilst also raising funds for St Mary's Church in Barton-upon-Humber.

Fiona remembers Hymers' vibrant musical culture fondly:

I benefited from being part of a really exciting time for music at Hymers, as I was in the first year of girls entering the Senior School. There was already a very strong musical tradition, but the addition of girls meant that the orchestras, and particularly the choirs, were strengthened to the point where singing major four-part choral works suddenly became possible. The instrumental teaching was excellent and the choirs and orchestras performed in concerts, music festivals and local venues, providing fantastic experience. I was in the Sixth Form when the Judy Dench Theatre opened and was leading the wind band at the time, so we provided the music for Guys and Dolls, before the days of full sound systems.

The aim is to hold audition workshops on 8 and 10 September at St Mary's Church Hall for young people aged 10-16 who enjoy singing and acting and would like the chance to be part of this exciting production. Grace will use the skills she has gained through her degree to deliver West End-style singing and acting workshops, as well as choreographing the production, while Fiona will serve as Musical Director. The show is planned for February 2027 at the church.

Rehearsals will take place every Tuesday evening in Barton, with performances scheduled for 19 and 20 February 2027, alongside additional rehearsals during the performance week. There is no charge to take part. The organisers hope the production will bring new audiences into the church while providing participants with valuable coaching, performance experience and an enriching activity outside of school.

Young people interested in auditioning can register their interest via the online form: Register your interest in auditioning here