Following the success of previous school productions, We Will Rock You, School of Rock, and High School Musical, the Creative Arts faculty are this year branching out into the world of musical comedy for their amateur production of ‘The Addams Family Musical’.

For over eighty-five years, the dark and eccentric antics of the fictional Addams Family have been a source of hilarity and entertainment – inspiring various movies, video games, comic books and TV shows, including recent Netflix spin-off series, ‘Wednesday’, and an up-coming sequel, ‘Uncle Fester’.

Featuring an original story, this musical comedy finds Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.

Assistant Headteacher and show director, Richard Mabbott, said: “Our production of The Addams Family marks a departure from our previous shows, which have been largely rock and pop based. These proved to be a great introduction to the world of musicals for our students and have enabled us to take a step towards a more classical musical theatre direction. With this show, the rock and pop instrumentation of recent years’ productions has been replaced by a genuine orchestral accompaniment.

“This production also highlights the strength of the legacy that our previous shows have built since our first performance in 2020. This is evidenced in the range of current, former and future students that are involved. This is most notable in amongst our band where, alongside our current students, our classroom and instrumental teachers, and visiting players, we welcome not only students in Year 12 and 13 who have recently left Withernsea High School, but also two Year 6 violinists from Patrington Primary School who will start with us in September – a real community effort!

“As the subject of Drama has become more embedded in the school, and with the range of characters in this production requiring more depth and skill, now is the right time for us to do something a little bit bigger and more challenging.

“The cast of 2024 have been a pleasure to work with. They have supported and encouraged each other and created an atmosphere of productivity and enjoyment which, combined with a high level of commitment, has led to the performances you will see next week. We are very proud of them all.”

Preparations for this year’s production have been underway since September when the first auditions were held. Since then, the cast, crew and musicians have met on a weekly basis to rehearse and prepare for the upcoming performances.  

These will take place in the school hall at 6.30pm on Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 March. Tickets, priced £4 adults and £3 concessions, are available now via the school reception. Tickets will also be available to purchase ‘on the door’.

As per previous years, the production will be staged with a professional sound and lighting rig courtesy of the Hull-based I.T.S.L Sound & Lighting Ltd.

Also lending their support to the show are former students including Abigail Little and Chloe Wicks who, after being involved in previous productions, have returned as part of this year’s directing team. Richard Mabbott said: “Despite now being in Year 12 and attending college elsewhere, both Abi and Chloe have shown unflinching commitment to this show. They have not only attended rehearsals every week to demonstrate what excellent role models they are to our current cast, they have also played a huge role in the stage management and production.

“The involvement of so many Withernsea alumni proves you can take the students out of Withernsea, but not Withernsea out of the students. We hope this legacy continues to grow over the coming years.”

ABOVE: The main cast of Withernsea High School’s amateur production of The Addams Family, pictured taking a break from a recent rehearsal.