See the virtual show that proved a hit on Facebook after school's performance was cancelled due to coronavirus

English teacher Amy Nicholls and her colleague Rochelle Charlton-Lainé, gave students, staff and parents a week to contribute a song to be broadcast on Facebook, chosen from three big musicals.

The three songs chosen were Hakuna Matata from The Lion King, the Glee version of Don’t Stop Believin’ and You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray.

Those who contributed are singing, playing instruments or lip-synching. There is even a sign language version of Hakuna Matata. The emphasis was very much on fun.

After a week of editing, Amy and Rochelle, who have put on other shows in the past, put together the nine-minute video which became an instant hit on Facebook.

Amy said: “With all that’s happening, we’re trying to give people something to smile about.

“It was myself and Rochelle, who’s a DT (design technology) teacher, who both came up with the idea. We sent out a message through WhatsApp inviting the kids, staff and their parents to take part. It was to give everyone a bit of fun while they’re isolated. That was the thought process.

“We put it up of Facebook at about four o’clock on Wednesday afternoon and by about nine o’clock we had over 1,600 views.”

Amy and Rochelle both appear in the video, as well as Amy’s mam Michelle Nicholls, who works for the NHS as a midwife.

To see the end product, visit Dene Academy’s Facebook page.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.