Young performers from Fairfax Academy joined students from the other schools in the respected Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust at Birmingham University for a wonderful 2025 FMAT Showcase.
The event, now in its fourth year, united Fairfax Academy with Erdington Academy, Smith’s Wood Academy and Bournville School for a celebratory night of music, dance and drama in the university’s iconic Elgar Concert Hall.
Fairfax’s Shakespeare Group kicked off the evening with a stellar snippet of their upcoming Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth night, which will be performed at the Old Rep Theatre theatre after October half-term.
Drama teacher Beth Catell said: “Winter term is a busy few months of performing for the students, starting with the FMAT Showcase and leading into the Shakespeare Festival and Eisteddfod.
“We had auditions for the Shakespeare Foundation performance in September, and we’ve been rehearsing since. We have a cast of Years 7 to 10, with some of our Year 10s having been in every Shakespeare show we’ve done.
“It’s great to see our young actors make the most of the space on stage, considering rehearsals have just been in a classroom. The University’s Bramall Music Building is a spectacular venue, and it introduces the students to what a professional performing environment looks like.”
Fairfax also contributed talented young dancers to the Showcase, beginning with a KS3 dance group comprised of Ava Laidbuk-Bould, Elodie Harding and Chloe McNair.
The school’s GCSE dancers then took to the stage. First were the Year 10 group, made up of Nicole Bradbury, Charnte Edwards, Annalise Finn, Madeleine Hall, Sofia Horsley, Emilia Kennard, Izzy Laker and Eileen Shirali.
Fairfax’s Assistant Principal and dance teacher, Jackie Mace, said: “Our Year 10s performed a choreographed piece they have worked on for the last seven weeks. It’s their own choreography – they’ve really come together to create something and express themselves.”
Year 11 dancers Isabelle Alexander, Lillian Bowen, Jasmin Delaney, Mae Heath, Isabel Hunt and Jess Kirkby then performed two GCSE pieces based on the works of external professional choreographers.
Mrs Mace said: “Our students have spent lesson time and many after-school hours working on their routines – they’ve been so dedicated.
“Performing on a stage like this gives them self-confidence, motivation and belief, and they’ve really committed themselves to it.”
On the music front, Fairfax was represented by a brilliant small ensemble of Leia Redman, Shae Karwowski, Riley Hill-Cotton, Eena Priddy, Bethany Bryer and Sophia Allen.
The Fairfax band took to the stage, comprised of Spencer Dowling, Ewan Tall, Sammy Moore, Niamh Hackett and Yuhao Cheng; while vocalist Niamh Scott-Walters put on an incredible solo singing performance.
Head of Music David Ashford said: “We’ve brought over 90 students today to showcase drama, music and dance.
Young performers from Fairfax Academy at FMAT showcase
“The event has built up so much over the last four years that I now have so many children coming to me asking to participate, we have to run auditions!”
The Showcase ended with a grand finale performance by the FMAT Choir, which unites young singers from all four schools.
Mr Ashford said: “Since last year, the FMAT choir has exploded. We go between each site and meet once every half term, and we prepared three songs for the Showcase tonight.”
Mrs Mace emphasised the importance of cross-school collaboration.
She said: “The Showcase is growing every year, and the quality from each school continues to develop each year too.
“The event allows for friendly competition, collaboration and celebration between the four schools, which reminds us all how lucky we are to be part of such an excellent Multi-Academy Trust.”
Principal Sean Castle said: “The FMAT Showcase was a brilliant evening where, once again, Fairfax’s students rose to the occasion and provided impressive polished performances.”