Newcastle's young rockers turn the volume up to 11 with School of Rock

Newcastle's young rock stars are getting ready to turn the volume up to 11 - as School Of Rock arrives at the Tyne Theatre.

The musical - which is based on the iconic film, starring Jack Black - begins it's North East run next week, and this is the first time the show has ever been performed by an amateur company, rather than a professional touring cast.

School of Rock tells the story of rogue rock star turned supply teacher, Dewey Finn, played by Sam Honour, and the class of students who become his unlikely band mates.

Sam tells us how influential Jack Black is as an actor and musician - and how this posed something of a challenge for him;

"You don't want it to be a Jack Black impression, you want to be able to put your own stamp on the role,

"But inevitably there's a huge amount of influence coming from him, his energy, the part he plays in the film.

"I think, in the stage version, purely by it being onstage and it being to a huge audience, you have to be bigger."

But aside from Sam as Dewey and a handful of teacher and parent roles, the main body of the cast is made up of young people - many of whom had never played an instrument before joining the show.

Aimee Curtis, 13, is one of the young cast members;

"I think it's been fun to incorporate the instruments into music, and I've never done a show like this in a theatre as big as this, so it's going to be really cool!"

While Joshua Murray, agrees it's been a great experience;

"Meeting so many new people, and having to learn all the songs - I've got every single song stuck in my head now! It's just been very good!"

15 year old Adam Crookes is looking forward to the prospect of playing live on stage;

"It's a really good experience - not just the instruments, but everybody - it's a really nice community honestly, the people who run it are amazing."

Adam was already a big fan of rock and roll before getting involved in the show, but that's not the case for everyone involved!

11 year old's Leo Moran and Wilbur Watkins tell us how - thanks to the director, County Durham's Sarah Bond - they have discovered some new music;

Wilbur: "I didn't really listen to rock that much before the show, and then Sarah basically introduced a whole new taste of music to me, and I just fell in love with rock after that."

Leo: "I knew some of the songs like Back in Black, but now I've started listening to it a bit more - like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Slipknot and stuff like that, and it's been quite nice actually!"

Director Sarah told the Mosh Pet podcast she could identify with Dewey Finn's character - particularly when sending the children away with "homework";

"Oh I 100% gave them homework!

"When they first came in, we held auditions and we had it was something near 150 kids - and literally the first rehearsal with my cast, the first thing I made them do is tell me what bands they listen to...

"And when I was getting Taylor Swift and all of that nonsense, One Direction, I was like, 'Get out of here, we need to sort this out!'

"So I did send them away.

"And also we have, like, a group, and every week I post a video link to a live performance of a band that I think they should watch and learn from.

"Bands like the Darkness, Queen with Freddie Mercury..."

School Of Rock is on at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle, from the 21st of March until the 25th of March.

Photos in this article by Lewis Palmer Photography - you can find out more from him on social media as well.

The show is recommended for audiences aged 6 and over. Parental discretion is advised as the show contains occasional strong language.

Based on the Paramount movie written by Mike White.

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Book by Julian Fellowes

Lyrics by Glenn Slater

An amateur production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd.

You can find out more about the show and how to get tickets here.

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