0:00:02 > 0:00:03You ready?
0:00:22 > 0:00:23'In a few moments,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26'the first-ever performance of School Of Rock will begin.'
0:00:26 > 0:00:30- How are you feeling, Amelia? - I'm feeling really excited.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33'For all of us in this room, it's a dream come true.'
0:00:33 > 0:00:35ALL: Oooo!
0:00:35 > 0:00:37'Excited but nervous.'
0:00:37 > 0:00:39It's the first time that School Of Rock
0:00:39 > 0:00:40has been open to the public,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43and I'm going to perform in it.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45'It just shows how far I've come.'
0:00:45 > 0:00:46When we're backstage,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49we all make sure that we've tucked in our shirts.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52'It's completely sold out. My mum just told me.'
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Today is, like, probably the biggest day of my life.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59'Like, really big. It's so awesome.'
0:00:59 > 0:01:00I'm so excited!
0:01:00 > 0:01:02It's definitely a dream come true
0:01:02 > 0:01:04cos I've always wanted to, like, perform in the West End,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07and, oh, it's just amazing.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10We've been rehearsing like crazy for the past three months,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13and even been photographed with the show's composer,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17the world-famous Andrew Lloyd Webber.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19But now, it's the moment of truth.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22So excited to go on stage! So excited!
0:01:28 > 0:01:33That's me, Bailey, at my audition for School Of Rock.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35The way I heard about School Of Rock was on Facebook,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37and it said "School Of Rock Auditions"
0:01:37 > 0:01:39with a picture, and there was a link at the bottom.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42"I need to go for this audition."
0:01:42 > 0:01:44That was my initial thoughts when I heard about it.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48And that's me, Lois, on the bass guitar.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54I did about...seven auditions, I think.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Cos there was a lot of auditions.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59I was so nervous that I wasn't going to get the part.
0:01:59 > 0:02:05# Amazing Grace... # 'And that's me, Amelia.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09'I've never done auditions for anything this big,'
0:02:09 > 0:02:13so it was pretty scary, but it was also really exciting as well.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Very, very lovely. That's fine.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17APPLAUSE
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Amazingly, I got the part out of hundreds who auditioned.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23CROWD CHANTS: School Of Rock! School Of Rock!
0:02:23 > 0:02:27My mum came out, and I was playing with my sister and my little cousin,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29and she just came out
0:02:29 > 0:02:32went, like, "Guess what? You got the part!"
0:02:33 > 0:02:35And I ran up the stairs and started screaming,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37"I got the part! I got the part!"
0:02:37 > 0:02:41The moment I found out that I got the part of Katie, I was so excited.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43My mum came rushing down the stairs
0:02:43 > 0:02:45and just said, "You've got the part!"
0:02:45 > 0:02:46And it's just...wow.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51We're going to London to do School Of Rock.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54I'm really excited. So, I'm in the middle of packing my suitcase,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58and these are all my favourite things to wear.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03It is scary, as well, cos I've never, like, done this before.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07So it's, like, my first time ever, so I will miss everybody.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12'I'm going to have to move to London by myself for six months.'
0:03:12 > 0:03:14The view is amazing.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18'So Mum and I go to one of our favourite places before I leave.'
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Up!
0:03:20 > 0:03:23She's 11 going on 18, so...she's ready for it.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26She's old enough in the head, I think, to get on with it
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and enjoy it and realise what it is that she's doing.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Mum! Mum!
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I think it's going to be hard, because she's my best mate,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35I'm going to miss her.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- I'm going to miss you, Mum. - I'm going to miss you more.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Come here. You're not allowed to make me cry.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43I'm not opening my crying gates yet.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46'I've also got to say goodbye to my baby brother Asher.'
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Mwah!
0:03:48 > 0:03:49'And to Dad.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53'And head to London for our adventure to begin.'
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Hi! So, I am on the train, and it's Saturday
0:03:57 > 0:04:01and I'm going to be in London soon.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02And I can't wait.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Hi!
0:04:07 > 0:04:08'Monday morning in London,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11'and for all of the children in School Of Rock,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13'it's day one of rehearsals.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:18I'm really excited, and I'm excited to meet all the other kids
0:04:18 > 0:04:22and start the dancing, and...it's just awesome.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Morning, morning.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Can you make a nice circle for us and take a seat on the floor?
0:04:27 > 0:04:29So, a great big circle. Just go right out.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33OK, welcome to School Of Rock, to Horace Green School.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Are we ready to do some work?
0:04:35 > 0:04:37ALL: Yes!
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Get your blood flowing!
0:04:41 > 0:04:42JoAnn is the choreographer,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46so she's going to be teaching us all the dance moves.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Make sure those knees go over your toes,
0:04:48 > 0:04:50make sure your heels go on the floor.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53'I can't even explain. I'm so excited.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56'I literally never in a million years thought I would be here,'
0:04:56 > 0:04:58and it's just incredible.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01I'm so happy!
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Some of the exercises at the beginning were really tough
0:05:05 > 0:05:08cos it hurt a little bit.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12Guess you have to do it cos it's, like, a really big opportunity
0:05:12 > 0:05:14cos it's, like, amazing!
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Oh, yeah, Bailey! Woo, woo!
0:05:18 > 0:05:22'All of today has been really good because it's been fun'
0:05:22 > 0:05:24and I've been getting stuff right,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26and I like to get stuff right.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Step is on the beat. # Here the chorus ring. #
0:05:30 > 0:05:32ALL: # Ever onwards
0:05:32 > 0:05:34# Destined to achieve. #
0:05:36 > 0:05:37'In the first week of rehearsals,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40'we start to learn some of those songs and the dance routines.'
0:05:40 > 0:05:41ALL: # Ooh, la... #
0:05:41 > 0:05:43# Ooh, la, la. # And there's a pulse.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46# When the way you're treated has you got you good and... #
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Hold! Yes!
0:05:48 > 0:05:52'It's hard work, but a lot of fun.'
0:05:53 > 0:05:56'Most children go home at the end of the day,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58'but those of us who live far away
0:05:58 > 0:06:00'stay in a special School Of Rock house.'
0:06:01 > 0:06:04'There's a classroom where we study in the mornings,
0:06:04 > 0:06:09'a music room, of course, where we practice after rehearsals,
0:06:09 > 0:06:10'and we even have house parents
0:06:10 > 0:06:13'who cook us dinner at the end of the day.'
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- We are a big family. - I'm the big brother!
0:06:16 > 0:06:18- Little sister! - SHE LAUGHS
0:06:18 > 0:06:21They're like brothers and sisters. It's a lovely environment,
0:06:21 > 0:06:23so they're working together, they're living together.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and I think that has a knock-on effect on their performance,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29on the show, being together all the time.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32We just recreate a happy home-from-home environment.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36It's been the first week in the house, and it's really fun,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40but I've been getting just a little bit homesick,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43and I really miss my parents.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45But everybody in the house has been really nice to me.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48'We all, like, play instruments and stuff
0:06:48 > 0:06:50'and we've been doing really fun things.'
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- # I'm in the band! - I'm in the band!
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- BOTH:- # We're in the band!
0:06:56 > 0:06:59# Band! #
0:07:00 > 0:07:02In case you don't know,
0:07:02 > 0:07:06School Of Rock tells the story of Dewey, a bit of a loser,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09who pretends to be a teacher at a smart private school.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Where he turns his class into a bunch of rockers.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16It was a famous film,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and hopefully it'll become a famous musical as well.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22With great pleasure, I can introduce you to your Dewey Finn.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24THEY CHEER
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Woo!
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Thank you, thank you.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38'The scene we're rehearsing today
0:07:38 > 0:07:41'is when Dewey tells us kids the meaning of rock.'
0:07:42 > 0:07:43Scoring chicks!
0:07:43 > 0:07:45'To stand up for yourself,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47'to take no nonsense from parents or teachers,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49'to stick it to the Man.'
0:07:49 > 0:07:51The point is the Man.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54He is the one that makes all the rules,
0:07:54 > 0:07:55he is the one that keeps you down.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58And how does that make you feel?
0:07:58 > 0:07:59Do you all feel ticked off?
0:07:59 > 0:08:01KIDS: Yeah!
0:08:01 > 0:08:04What makes you more angry than anything else in the world?
0:08:04 > 0:08:05You, Katie!
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Being...overscheduled!
0:08:08 > 0:08:10KIDS: Yeah!
0:08:10 > 0:08:13# Parents overwork ya, stick it to the Man. #
0:08:13 > 0:08:17What else? Uh, you, Freddie!
0:08:17 > 0:08:18All the pressure!
0:08:18 > 0:08:19Oh, all that pressure?!
0:08:21 > 0:08:26- # Hate the way they jerk ya? - Stick it to the Man! #
0:08:26 > 0:08:27'My character is called Freddie,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30'and Dewey turns him into a rock and roll drummer.'
0:08:32 > 0:08:35I really identified with Freddie.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37It's kind of my story in a way as well.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39When he plays drums, he just lets everything out,
0:08:39 > 0:08:41and that's what I do as well.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45My dad is a drummer,
0:08:45 > 0:08:50and he's played for Plan B, The Streets and Akala.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Literally just inspires me.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I would just sit and watch him all day
0:08:55 > 0:08:59and then till he got up one day, and I just went on and started playing.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02I've had a drum kit since I was three.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I think the biggest challenge is going to be singing.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Cos the drumming's a more natural thing for me,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and singing, I have to try and make it a natural thing.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12My voice doesn't mix with singing.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Cos it just doesn't, and I hate singing.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18One, two, three, four.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20In the show, we all play the instruments for real.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Of course, Bailey's on the drums,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25while I'm rocking out as Katie, the bass guitarist.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30I can relate to Katie because
0:09:30 > 0:09:33we both...started playing the cello.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Then I really got into drumming.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Then School Of Rock came along so I learnt the bass.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49It's kind of the same as Katie cos Katie started with the cello
0:09:49 > 0:09:53and then she learned the bass from the knowledge of the cello,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and I kind of did the same.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59She's quiet, but she's got a little bit of, like...
0:09:59 > 0:10:01inside of her. Like...
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Like, fire, I guess!
0:10:03 > 0:10:06# Katie, you're in the band. #
0:10:06 > 0:10:08I can relate to that.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10Remember, we start...
0:10:10 > 0:10:13# Doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo, doo. #
0:10:13 > 0:10:14# Doo, doo-doo... #
0:10:14 > 0:10:18'As for me, I'm playing Shonelle, one of the backup singers,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20'and I am loving every minute of it.'
0:10:23 > 0:10:26The West End is full of productions starring children.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30From Matilda to Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Right now, I am going to meet two of the Charlies
0:10:34 > 0:10:36from Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40I'm really interested to find out what it's like
0:10:40 > 0:10:43to be in a West End show, cos I've never done it before.
0:10:45 > 0:10:51- Hi!- I'm Noah.- Nice to meet you. - Hi, I'm Archie.- Hi, I'm Amelia.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54'Noah and Archie both play the main role of Charlie
0:10:54 > 0:10:56'and have been in the show for a year and a half.'
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- Wow.- It's a very old theatre. It's, like, the oldest in London.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Ooh, it's nice up here, isn't it? Great view.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07What's the hardest thing about being in a West End musical?
0:11:07 > 0:11:10You do miss your parents a lot, and it's...
0:11:10 > 0:11:13But when you're on there, it's so much fun.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16You mostly get homesick when you're on your own,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19but then when you spend time with all your friends and everything,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22you just get distracted and you just play with them,
0:11:22 > 0:11:23and then it's just...
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Yeah. When me and Noah started, we were there for each other.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29There were times when we felt really homesick.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32- We were like brothers, almost, weren't we?- Yeah.- Almost.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- I used to call you my little brother.- Yeah.- I'm the big brother.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Do you miss your friends a lot as well?
0:11:37 > 0:11:40When you're at school, you have your school friends.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Then, when you come back, they're a bit iffy about you
0:11:43 > 0:11:45cos they're quite jealous.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47So you've got to try and get back into their good books,
0:11:47 > 0:11:48- if you get...- Yeah.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50You sometimes miss some of the stuff that they do,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and you're like, "Oh, damn, if only I could do that."
0:11:53 > 0:11:56But at the same time, you've got to think we can never do this again,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59so we've really got to take it as it comes.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- You've got to keep it whilst you're young, aren't you?- Definitely.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Cos when you're young,
0:12:03 > 0:12:07you have, like, a matter of five years to do it,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09and then when you're like, when your voice breaks,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13until, like, 20, there will hardly be any jobs, will there?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Just remember that you are in a West End show
0:12:16 > 0:12:19and you have the time of your life on stage.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21# Rock the house and make a scene
0:12:21 > 0:12:24# And crank the amp to 17! #
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Crank it! Crank it! Crank it! Crank it up here!
0:12:28 > 0:12:30'It's still six weeks before we'll be on stage.'
0:12:32 > 0:12:36'But in the meantime, we're rehearsing four days a week.'
0:12:37 > 0:12:39'And having the time of our lives.'
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Awesome, awesome! Go to lunch. Nicely done!
0:12:43 > 0:12:46So, guys, just after lunch...
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Hey, guys, I'm about to go into my secondary school.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54It's my first day, and I'm starting in a new school.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55I'm really nervous
0:12:55 > 0:12:58cos I've had a bit of a rough time in primary school.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04I'm the only one that is going to the new school from my old school,
0:13:04 > 0:13:05and I know nobody there
0:13:05 > 0:13:07and it's going to be a lot to keep up with
0:13:07 > 0:13:10with school and School Of Rock.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12And I'm scared I'm not going to make many friends
0:13:12 > 0:13:13because I'm going to be out,
0:13:13 > 0:13:15and I'm just really scared.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22'For me and the others in the School Of Rock house,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26'even though we don't go to our schools, school comes to us.'
0:13:27 > 0:13:29All the work from our normal school
0:13:29 > 0:13:32gets brought down all the way to here.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35That's all the work that everybody else is doing at school,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38and...oh, yeah, it's just so tiring.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Emma, Emma...
0:13:40 > 0:13:41'After a couple of weeks,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45'it turns out secondary school isn't so scary after all.'
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- Lois.- Morning.- Morning. Kieran.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53'As well as music lessons, I've also started learning Latin.'
0:13:53 > 0:13:55SHE SPEAKS LATIN
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Hey, Lois.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00'My head of year Mrs Tyrell is really nice.'
0:14:00 > 0:14:03How are you finding keeping up with the homework?
0:14:03 > 0:14:06I find it really hard cos I only really have Sundays,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10and I'm sitting at the table dozing off while trying to do homework.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12What about the girls that you're hanging out with, though?
0:14:12 > 0:14:14- They're nice, are they? Good bunch? - Yeah.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Do feel that you've got a group that you sort of hang out with
0:14:17 > 0:14:19- when you're here?- Yeah.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I know that I get loads of homework, and I even struggle to do it,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26even without doing, like, a big West End musical.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28The teachers are being really nice about it.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30They're saying I don't need to do the homework,
0:14:30 > 0:14:32but if I can, that would be really good.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Do you think, like, after the musical,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- you'll carry on playing the bass? - Hm...
0:14:36 > 0:14:39- Will it become something serious? - Yeah, I think so.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42So, like, is it really fun? So you don't regret anything about it?
0:14:42 > 0:14:46If you talk too much and don't obey the chaperones or the directors,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48you get kicked out of the show. SHE GASPS
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- Have you been kicked...? - No, I haven't been kicked out!
0:14:51 > 0:14:52'Four weeks into rehearsals,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55'and we've moved to a much bigger space
0:14:55 > 0:14:57'in the middle of London's Theatreland.'
0:15:01 > 0:15:05So, it's either going to be pizza or pasta.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Oh, what type of pasta?!
0:15:07 > 0:15:11'Justin's one of several chaperones who, as well as ordering lunch,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14'makes sure we stick to the legal working hours.'
0:15:14 > 0:15:17The children are allowed to rehearse for five hours a day.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19They also get an hour's break for lunch,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21and they will get two 15 minute breaks -
0:15:21 > 0:15:23one in the afternoon and one in the evening,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26or one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28- JOANN:- How good are we going to be?
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- Amazing!- Thank you, Amelia!
0:15:32 > 0:15:34That's what I want to hear.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37'Today, we're rehearsing one of the biggest scenes in the show,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40'and I have a lot of moves to learn.'
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Yeah, don't bend over on the "tuh".
0:15:42 > 0:15:45One, two, three. Yeah.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47And, "tuh". Two.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Can you bend one knee? Boom. Huh! Huh! Huh!
0:15:50 > 0:15:51Yes! There we go.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54All right, here we go, young actors. Be smart...
0:15:56 > 0:15:59..be safe, but be brilliant.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08'When we got on stage, we got a little bit confused,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11'so we have to ask a lot of questions to JoAnn.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14It was pretty hard, but we got there in the end.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17'We often rehearse in the evenings.'
0:16:17 > 0:16:19One, two, three, four...
0:16:19 > 0:16:23# And yet it's all, it's all in vain... #
0:16:23 > 0:16:26'I really love drumming. I'm not so keen on singing.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29'But in the show, I have to sing a solo.'
0:16:30 > 0:16:34# And yet you just keep shutting me out. #
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Bailey.
0:16:36 > 0:16:37It's all in vain.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40It's quite hard to get the clarity on those words,
0:16:40 > 0:16:41so you make sure...
0:16:41 > 0:16:44# And yet it's all, it's all in vai-ain. #
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- IN HIGHER REGISTER:- # And yet it's all, it's all in vain. #
0:16:47 > 0:16:50# And yet it's all, it's all in vai-ain. #
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Good, good, good, good. Well done.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55There was a few times when I went off.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59There was some point in the song where I just went out of tune
0:16:59 > 0:17:01and kept forgetting harmonies and stuff.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03But then I got a grip.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09'At the end of the day, while everyone gets to go home,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12'I talk to my mum on my laptop.'
0:17:12 > 0:17:14- I miss you so much. - 'I miss you millions.'
0:17:14 > 0:17:17'But there's one thing I want to discuss.'
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Am I going to spend Christmas here or with you?
0:17:20 > 0:17:22'It depends on your performances.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25'We might not be able to get you home.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27'There's not much transport at Christmas time, is there?
0:17:27 > 0:17:31- 'Give me a call in the morning, or a text...'- OK.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33- Bye. Love you. - 'Love you millions. Miss you.'
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- Mwah!- 'Mwah! Bye, love you!'- Bye!
0:17:36 > 0:17:40'Just, you know, seeing my mum's face is nice.'
0:17:40 > 0:17:43I am a little bit emotional, to be honest,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47cos, you know, it's hard when you see your parent's face
0:17:47 > 0:17:50cos it's like, oh, they're right there!
0:17:50 > 0:17:53But, you know, I know I'm going to see her in, like...
0:17:56 > 0:17:59..four days! So, you know... And four days goes really quick.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08At last, it's time to move to the actual theatre.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12ALL: It's the new theatre!
0:18:12 > 0:18:14How are you doing?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16'That's Laurence who's the director.'
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Is the set done?
0:18:23 > 0:18:26It's so cool.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27Today is the first day of tech,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29first time the kids will be on the stage.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Now they have to know everything.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34It's, like, the proper stage with the proper audience,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37and it's just like this is now our second home
0:18:37 > 0:18:39because we're going to be here, like, all the time.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43This new kit is rock and roll. It is.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45SHE LAUGHS
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Go. So it's timed from "go", is when I want you to go, right?
0:18:52 > 0:18:56'In this theatre, Laurence is the boss.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58'And when he says jump, we jump.'
0:18:59 > 0:19:02It feels like we're doing aerobics exercise video.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07- The School of Rock!- Oh!
0:19:07 > 0:19:09- OVER SPEAKER: - Thank you. That's dinner.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11THEY CHEER
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Guys, the light is really, really good now.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Give some attitude!
0:19:23 > 0:19:24'It's publicity day,
0:19:24 > 0:19:29and Andrew Lloyd Webber himself joins us all for a photo shoot.'
0:19:29 > 0:19:30ALL: School Of Rock!
0:19:32 > 0:19:34THEY DO VOCAL WARM-UP
0:19:37 > 0:19:39'But there's still lots of work to do,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41'and as opening night approaches,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44'Fiona, the singing teacher, gives us a group lesson,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47'and decides to give me one on my own, too.'
0:19:47 > 0:19:50# You know I try, try, try to explain. #
0:19:50 > 0:19:53That's "ha, ha" and "try, try, try to explain".
0:19:53 > 0:19:56# You know I try, try, try to explain... #
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- Good boy.- # I'm not the kid you want me to be... #
0:19:59 > 0:20:00That's it.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03# And yet it's all, it's all in vain
0:20:03 > 0:20:06# You just don't want to see the real me. #
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Make it a little bit more...
0:20:08 > 0:20:09Can you sing in an American accent?
0:20:09 > 0:20:12- And yet it's "awl". "Awl".- "Awl".
0:20:12 > 0:20:15I mean, I'm Scottish and I sound more American.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- "Awl".- All.- "Awl". "Aw", "aw", "aw".
0:20:18 > 0:20:21- Drop the jaw. - "Awl".- That's better.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- How does that feel? - Better than when I started it.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27I mean, so much better than when you started it.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Sounds better than when you did it five minutes ago.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Drummers who can sing will have great careers.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Yeah?
0:20:35 > 0:20:38'School Of Rock is the latest show written by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41'He's probably the most famous composer of musicals in the world.'
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- How's the weekend been?- ALL: Good.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- Are you enjoying ourselves?- Yeah. - Yeah, great, great, great, great.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49- Are you going to ask me some questions?- Yeah.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51When you were our age,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?
0:20:55 > 0:20:56When I was about ten,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58I used to make my parents and my friends come round
0:20:58 > 0:21:02and look at these very, very boring musicals, they must've been,
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and I think everybody thought I was a complete idiot.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06But that's what I wanted to do!
0:21:06 > 0:21:08How do you know what musical to do next?
0:21:08 > 0:21:12Oh! Thank you very much. I don't know what I'm going to do next.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14We're lucky with School Of Rock because it's a great story.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17What advice would you give someone
0:21:17 > 0:21:20wanting to audition for School Of Rock?
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Obviously you've got to be able to play an instrument
0:21:22 > 0:21:24if you're going to go for the band.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29But if you want to be in the show, be yourself, be natural.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33# Don't just sit and take it. Stick it to the... # Come on!
0:21:33 > 0:21:35'That's my little sister, Halley.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38'I think she'll be auditioning for the show soon.'
0:21:38 > 0:21:39# Rant and rave and scream and shout
0:21:39 > 0:21:42# Get all of your aggression out. #
0:21:43 > 0:21:46'But even though I'm starring in a West End musical,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48'I still have to do homework.'
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- You've just got music homework? - Yeah.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54HE HUMS
0:21:54 > 0:21:57You like singing now. You didn't even used to like singing at all.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Now you're always singing.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02He was, like, saying "I'll do the drumming bit,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05"I won't do the singing bit, and I don't do acting."
0:22:05 > 0:22:06- Done.- Finished.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09I can see he's tired
0:22:09 > 0:22:11and I can see he's got some lines under his eyes
0:22:11 > 0:22:13which he never used to have,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16but he, in himself... quite resilient.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Good morning, darling.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- I want to go back to bed.- I know.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- Tired.- Yeah. Not too tired.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Nearly there.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33A few more days.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Last night I finished at ten o'clock,
0:22:38 > 0:22:42but then it took, like, half an hour to get home,
0:22:42 > 0:22:46so I got home at like around 11:30.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49I'll be glad when Lois can actually have some lie-ins.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50And get some homework done!
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Missing out on homework!
0:22:52 > 0:22:53Yes!
0:22:58 > 0:23:00OK. So, let's figure this out.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03'With time running out and everyone really tired,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06'even our director Laurence is feeling the pressure.'
0:23:06 > 0:23:07..more time?
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Can we have quiet in the house, please? We're going to do this.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12We're running out of time. Thank you.
0:23:12 > 0:23:13Guys, can we wake up?
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Toby, go back to where you were.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16But then what?
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Guys, please know your lines!
0:23:22 > 0:23:27We open, like, in a week. Seriously.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31If we don't know our lines now, are we going to look foolish?
0:23:31 > 0:23:32Start again.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35We are six... Not even six any more.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Five and a half days left until opening.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Well, I think because we're so close to it
0:23:41 > 0:23:43and we kept getting stuff wrong,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46so I think he was getting really stressed
0:23:46 > 0:23:48and saying that we need to focus and stuff.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51OK, let's clean this place up. We don't have much time.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54I was hoping that we were going to be further along in that session,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56and unfortunately...we weren't.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00'With the clock ticking, costumes are fitted.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03'And the girls' hair is styled.'
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Let's look at the back.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Some people have wigs at the end of the show
0:24:07 > 0:24:10and they're just trying them on, like, over there.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16'Before I started, I thought that I would make no friends,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19'I thought that they were all going to be so much better than me,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22'I was scared.'
0:24:22 > 0:24:23I have these things called worry moments
0:24:23 > 0:24:24and I have quite a lot of them.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27But before the first day, where I met everyone,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30I had a massive one, and I couldn't get to sleep.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34I got through it and I made friends, and that really helped me out,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37and now I really regret having all of those worries.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39OK, well, at least we can get the...
0:24:39 > 0:24:43'School Of Rock is really about how music can change your life,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46'and I know that it has changed all of ours.'
0:24:46 > 0:24:49So, you need to really spit those words out.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50This is not supposed to be pretty -
0:24:50 > 0:24:52you've really got to direct it out there.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- Who are using into in this?- Um...
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Oh, there's this girl at school...
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- Yeah?- She doesn't listen to me. - Good!
0:25:01 > 0:25:03- Well, it was my old school, so... - Great!
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Well, you see her and you tell her
0:25:06 > 0:25:09"I promise one day I'll make you hear." OK?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11So this time, you're singing to that girl at school,
0:25:11 > 0:25:14so give me some of that fire that I know you've got in there, Lois.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18- Where from?- From "I've got so much inside." Really tell her.
0:25:18 > 0:25:19Imagine she's standing there.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23- # I've got so much inside... # - Really tell her.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26# If only you would listen
0:25:26 > 0:25:29# It's not much I'm asking
0:25:29 > 0:25:32# I only want your ears
0:25:32 > 0:25:36# But I promise one day I'll make you hear... #
0:25:36 > 0:25:40- Tell her again. - # It's not much I'm asking
0:25:40 > 0:25:44# I only want your ear
0:25:44 > 0:25:46# And I promise one day
0:25:46 > 0:25:50# I'll shake you so damn hard that at last I'll wake you
0:25:50 > 0:25:57# Yeah, I promise one day I'll make you hear. #
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Much better. How did that feel?
0:26:00 > 0:26:04It's better, cos I've actually got something to...
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- Focus on.- Yeah.- Yeah, exactly.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09School Of Rock!
0:26:09 > 0:26:12'At last, it's the moment we've all been waiting for -
0:26:12 > 0:26:14'the opening night.'
0:26:14 > 0:26:16This is when we start finding out if, actually,
0:26:16 > 0:26:17it's as good as we think it is.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19ALL: # Yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry
0:26:19 > 0:26:21# Red lorry, yellow lorry... #
0:26:21 > 0:26:25'We do a last-minute warm-up to make sure our voices are in tune.'
0:26:26 > 0:26:29'And Laurence gives us some final instructions.'
0:26:29 > 0:26:33We have to be so focused, and let's enjoy a paying audience,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36and they'll be seeing this show for the very first time.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Have the best time. Focus out there, OK?
0:26:44 > 0:26:47CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:26:47 > 0:26:49I'm sure you're all going to appreciate
0:26:49 > 0:26:51just how much goes into this show.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56Just one thing - the children play everything absolutely live.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57Everything.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:26:59 > 0:27:02# Katie, you're in the band. #
0:27:02 > 0:27:04OK...
0:27:07 > 0:27:10# Woo! You're in the band. #
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Backup singer! Backup singer!
0:27:15 > 0:27:17- You all feeling ticked off? - ALL: Yeah!
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Then, what makes you more angry than anything else in the world?!
0:27:21 > 0:27:23You, Katie!
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- Being...overscheduled!- Oh!
0:27:26 > 0:27:30- # Parents overwork ya - Stick it to the Man...! #
0:27:30 > 0:27:34- What else? Freddie! - All the pressure!- All that pressure!
0:27:34 > 0:27:39- # Hate the way they jerk ya - Stick it to the Man!
0:27:39 > 0:27:42# Why live your life to someone else's plan?
0:27:42 > 0:27:44# Stick it to the Man...! #
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Go ahead, all of you. Get something off of your chests.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54- ALL: # Stick it to the Man! - Boom!
0:27:54 > 0:27:56# Rock the house and make a scene
0:27:56 > 0:27:58# And crank the amps to 17
0:27:58 > 0:28:00# And scream until their ears are shot
0:28:00 > 0:28:02# They all can kiss your you know what
0:28:02 > 0:28:06# Do everything they ever tried to ban
0:28:06 > 0:28:07# Stick it to the Man
0:28:07 > 0:28:11# Stick it to the Man Stick it to the Man
0:28:11 > 0:28:13# Stick it to the Man
0:28:14 > 0:28:16# Stick it to the Man! #
0:28:16 > 0:28:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:28:22 > 0:28:26The children, the Demon Rascals of Horace Green.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29APPLAUSE
0:28:31 > 0:28:35Playing bass live all evening, Miss Lois Jenkins!
0:28:37 > 0:28:43And on the drums, Mr Bailey Cassell.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50THEY CHEER
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Oh, my gosh, that was amazing.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56I couldn't be more proud. Very happy.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59Just watching her the whole time, just worrying for her.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02But she was brilliant, and she didn't seem to be nervous,
0:29:02 > 0:29:03she seemed to be enjoying it.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06All the kids were amazing.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Probably one of the best things I've ever done in my life.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14Just seemed surreal. From that baby, to now...
0:29:14 > 0:29:16He's doing this! It's amazing.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19CROWD CHANTING: School Of Rock! School Of Rock!
0:29:19 > 0:29:21Love you lots.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25So proud. So, so proud of her. She was unbelievable.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27All of them. They were all fantastic.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Can't believe we just did that. It's just...it's amazing.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35I'm so proud.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37You going to make us cry! Don't make us cry!
0:29:37 > 0:29:38Aw, sweetheart!