Wokingham’s newest theatre was officially opened on Tuesday 17 January by HRH, The Earl of Wessex.
The Earl was special guest at Luckley House School, a coeducational independent school for pupils aged 11-18. He was invited to unveil an engraved stone plaque on the stage in front of a packed auditorium of pupils, staff, governors and invited guests, which included local dignitaries, members of the construction team who had built the theatre and the architects from London firm, vHH, who designed the award-winning building.
The audience was treated to outstanding drama and music performances by the school’s talented pupils, including a Physical Theatre interpretation of ‘All the World’s a Stage’ from Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’, and the whole school sang a beautiful rendition of Gary Barlow’s ‘Sing’.
The Earl then took to the stage and engaged the audience with his obvious passion for the performing arts, stressing its importance within the modern education system.
Following the unveiling of the plaque, he spoke to the pupils who had performed on stage and met the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group, a subject close to his heart and particularly topical as last year the organisation celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Head, Jane Tudor said “this has been an inspiring occasion. The Earl shares the school’s passion for the Arts and the value of excellence in arts education. To share such a celebration with a true champion of the arts has been a pleasure and an honour.”