The show did go on for young thespians despite a technical hitch. 

Students at the Sir John Colfox Academy put on their annual Colfox Christmas Cracker and more than 60 students collaborated producing a show consisting of performances from the school choir, orchestra, dancers, soloists and groups. 

An audience of 220 parents, friends and family packed and not even an electrical blowout that damaged all of the pre-prepared music could dampen the mood. 

There were 19 acts and highlights included a group of Year 7 students performing an extract from Matilda.

Soloists Chairra Sidebottahm, Ellie Taylor and Ryan Williams were in great form and the duet of Rockabye by Chloe Rainey and Vikki Marlow was described as superb by teachers.

The orchestra collaborated with Essie Stone in an amusing take on the 12 Days of Christmas and their performance of Fairy Tale of New York was a hit. 

A small group of Year 7 and 8 dancers showed a taster from the 2018 Rock Challenge entry and the school choir really helped the Christmas Mood with A Winters Tale and Merry Christmas Everyone.

Before the event started, the audience arrived to the choir singing song around the tree in the entrance.

Year 12 comperes Tom Crabtree and Eve Appleton Scott guided the audience through the evening and also took a turn performing themselves. 

The proceeds from the evening are being shared by Save the Children and the Sixth Form RAG week fund.