On Thursday 11th December, students at Heath Lane Academy enjoyed getting into the festive spirit as the school hosted its Christmas Variety Show, the academy’s first performance in its newly opened theatre.
Featuring a mix of performances from singing to dancing and acting, students were excited to showcase their talents on stage to a delighted audience of family and friends. The evening was hosted by two students who introduced each act and delivered excellent comedy to link all the fantastic performances.
After all the acts had performed, the judging panel decided on their winner. Themba, a student in Year 9, was crowned the winner following a performance of ‘Washington on your side’ – Hamilton.

The school’s new theatre is just one of the wider improvements the academy has recently seen, including a new astro-turf pitch which will soon be available for community use. These investments will enhance opportunities for students and the local community, ensuring that students at Heath Lane have access to a range of excellent facilities to support their learning.
Mark Trimingham, Principal at Heath Lane Academy, said:
“It was a wonderful evening with many exceptional performances enjoyed by a superb audience. We have always had talented pupils at Heath Lane, and I am delighted we now have a modern theatre for them to showcase their talents for us all to enjoy. Congratulations to all the performers, especially Themba who delivered a magical winning performance. A special mention also goes to Mrs Chapman, Mrs Kirkham and Mr Wallace for their hard work behind the scenes to ensure we all enjoyed our evening!”
Sally Chapman, Performing Arts Lead at Heath Lane Academy, said:
“We were thrilled to celebrate the opening of our new theatre with our Christmas Variety Show. All the students delivered brilliant performances and should be very proud of themselves. Looking to the future, all of us at Heath Lane are excited to make use of our new theatre to put on a range of productions which allow our students to grow in confidence and showcase their unique talents.”