musical as a K-12 school. With a cast of 70 students ranging from Year 5 to Year 12, and a dedicated support crew including student leaders, backstage teams, and parent volunteers, the show was a resounding success.

Inspired by the timeless tale of innovation and imagination, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” follows the journey of the inventive Caractacus Potts and his children, Jeremy and Jemima, as they breathe new life into a forgotten race car salvaged from Coggins scrap heap. Little do they know that their creation holds extraordinary powers, capable of defying gravity and soaring through the skies.

But their newfound invention attracts the attention of the villainous Baron Bomburst, who sets his sights on seizing the magical vehicle for his own nefarious purposes. Determined to protect their creation, the Potts family, along with the resourceful Truly Scrumptious and the eccentric Grandpa Potts, must unite forces to outmanoeuvre the treacherous Baron and Baroness, and their sinister accomplice, the Child Catcher.

Nicholas Willey, Year 7 who played the role of Jeremy Potts said being casted as the lead role meant cutting down on commitments like sports and music from October 2023. However, in return, he gained many priceless lessons including how to be more organised, disciplined, juggle between school and the production, people skills and confidence.

“Two highlights that I’ve learnt from Chitty is that regardless of what role you have, productions are fun, especially musicals.

“The second is that although you might have initially felt scared as a first-time lead having to learn all these lines, you’ll learn that your confidence level will grow massively and will help you for future endeavours. I absolutely love being a part of this theatre “family” and I hope to I will have more opportunities to be part of other productions in the future!”

Seasoned musical performer, Josh Diaz, Year 12, who played the role of grandpa Potts said he enjoyed every moment playing the highly eccentric and imaginative character with absurdist qualities.

“Grandpa and I both embrace our creative and silly characters to bring excitement into our surroundings, and make others feel a positive way.

“As this is my last high school production before I graduate, my experience in this musical means a lot to me. By being involved in performing arts over the years, I discovered my passion, made deep friendships and I now embrace my love for singing, dancing and acting.”

He added it was fantastic to see the props and staging come to life, knowing it was the collective work of students, staff and parents that contributed to the success of the production.

Alice Herbert, Year 11 played the role of the baroness said she had so much fun delving into a character that was opposite to her.

“The baroness is an evil, crazy and must get her own way, but at times she’s also fun and energetic. She throws a ton of tantrums so most of the time during scenes I’m either kicking my feet and crying or crawling on the floor yelling at my poor husband.

“The highlight of this production for me would probably be the people I’ve gotten to work with. Rehearsals were fun, and everyone got along so well. I also got to work alongside one of my close friends Josh (the baron), making it much more difficult to not laugh during the sillier scenes that we shared. I’ve also loved seeing the development of costume design and props. The group of students and teachers putting everything together are so incredibly creative and talented, and all the set pieces and costumes looked great.”

Principal Mr. Jeff Allen congratulated all involved in the production of the musical, adding he was proud to see the students’ exemplify the College’s values of courage, compassion and commitment, mirroring the themes found in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

“It was evident that this was more than just a musical – it was an opportunity for students to learn and grow, both as performers and individuals.

“At Corpus Christi College, fostering connections and creating a sense of community is at the heart of everything we do. Being able to bring together students from across our Junior and Senior school, along with their families, to deliver a musical production is a wonderful achievement that embodies the spirit of connection and inclusivity that defines our school. It is through collaborative efforts like these that we strengthen bonds, celebrate diversity, and create lasting memories for our entire school community.

“I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers, and families for their dedication and commitment to making this production a success, and I look forward to continuing to nurture these important connections in the years to come.”