Taking sides for a story of gang rivalry

Nov 20 2009 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal

ONE of opera’s biggest names has been encouraging young people from two North East schools to get involved in gang rivalry this week - but purely in the name of entertainment.

North East-born Graeme Danby has been working with pupils from Red House Academy and Castleview Enterprise Academy, both in Sunderland, on an unusual production of the Broadway smash, West Side Story.

The twist in this production is that pupils from both schools have joined forces to form the two rival gangs in the musical, the Jets and the Sharks.

The performance, which involves around 120 Year 9 pupils aged 14 and 15, will be staged today at Sunderland University’s CitySpace.

The opera star is principal bass with the English National Opera and an honorary professor of music at Sunderland.

He said: “I am delighted to be involved with these talented young performers. I hope that as many parents and students as possible will attend this unique event.”