Carrick-on-Suir primary school's production of the Lion King was a roaring triumph

Some of the principal cast members performing on stage during Carrick-on-Suir Presentation Primary School's production of the Lion King

The wildlife of the African Savanna filled the stage of Carrick-on-Suir’s Presentation Primary School for a visually stunning production of The Lion King.

The Disney musical famous for such hit songs as The Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata and Can You Feel The Love Tonight was staged in the Presentation school hall to packed audiences over four nights from May 7 to 10.

The show, featuring on-stage performances from 88 students from 4th to 6th classes with support from 20 backing singers from 2nd class was a pure joy to watch from start to finish.

Months of preparation went into staging this big musical - the school’s first in seven years - and it showed from the gorgeously colourful and imaginative set and impressive acting performances of the principal performers to the ensemble dance routines of the supporting chorus singers and dancers.

A stand out feature of the show was the wonderful costumes that were the creations of artist Margueritte Kent with help from students.

Countless hours of work must have gone into creating the hugh variety of costumes and masks for the principals and array of supporting animal performers from lions, giraffes, elephants and zebras to wildebeests, exotic birds and hyenas.

The Clonea-Power based artist, who created the costumes from recycled materials, was also responsible for the set.

Following the standing ovation at the end of the final show, Principal Pat Robinson spoke of how proud the school’s staff and parents were of the students who had “just knocked it out of the park” with their stage performances.

He spoke of how preparations for the show over the last few months had brought a “sense of togetherness” between staff and pupils.

He thanked all the staff involved in the production and made gift presentations to Margueritte Kent, show Director Natalie O’Connell, Producer Brian Sheridan and Music Director Maria Fennessy of the Music Generation Programme for giving over and above what anyone expected of them for the “love of the show and school”.

Check out more photos from the show in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops. 

Pictured below: Students who performed the roles of elephants pictured before putting on their elephant trunk headdresses for the show. Pictures Anne Marie Magorrian.