Behind-the-scenes with the ‘Beatles’ band to see the process behind the magical mystery of Oundle’s musicians.
Following my GCSEs, I went home for summer, ready to rest and prepare myself for my return to school in September. Nothing could have prepared me for the rollercoaster of music, fun and chaos I was getting myself into. Approaching The Beatles show this week has felt unbelievable. Looking back, I feel like it was only yesterday when Mr Macdonald first approached me with the idea of a Beatles recreation show. Having supported his Dark Side of the Moon work from the audience, I immediately jumped at the chance to be on stage for his next musical masterpiece.
But from the beginning, I have asked myself, will it come together?
The process has been tiresome and challenging at times yet rewarding in so many ways. We have worked every Wednesday afternoon, come rain or shine, for the past seven months to create the perfect night of musical magic. I have made so many memories and see this as a great opportunity to showcase the power of Oundelian talent. I wish to provide a behind-the-scenes view of our show to demonstrate the commitment and time we have given to this project.
There are so many components which have pulled this show together, the first being the set list! The list has fluctuated immensely. Whilst we’ve added songs that have come to be our favourites, we’ve had to take away songs which would have had a full standing ovation and perfected magical harmonies.
The next ingredient to a great show comes down to the band members. I have worked with so many amazing musicians and have had so much fun meeting new people across all the year groups from here, there and everywhere. Over the past year working with Mr Macdonald, all I can say is thank you. Whilst he hides amongst the crowd, he is the person who has made this all come together. Recognition for his wit, sense of humour and musical intelligence must be honoured.
The final component, which falls beyond the musical expertise and has been in the works over the past month, is the marketing and everything the Stahl team have done to help promote our show. The poster, recreating the famous Abbey Road photo, features our modern-day take on the Beatles, which is reflected in our performance on stage. I remember arriving slightly late to one Wednesday rehearsal five months back and hearing Mr Macdonald ask me if I owned a VW Beetle. I looked at him and we all burst into laughter. I remember the panic as our drummer, Alvy, ran barefoot into the road to pose for the photo as three separate photographers tried to capture the perfect angle.
The costumes, hair, makeup, dancing, lighting and sound all make the evening more immersive, more fun, and more Beatles, so I want to express my gratitude to all those who have contributed to this project.
From the beginning when I asked myself will it all come together? I always knew it would, with a little help from my friends.
