Westholme Welcomes Christina Gabbitas for Exciting New Theatre Project

Westholme was delighted to welcome author and playwright Christina Gabbitas to school on Friday for the first creative workshop session in the development of her book Believe in Magic for the stage.

The exciting new project, which will culminate in a full production at King George’s Hall later this year, celebrates Blackburn’s heritage, community spirit and local stories through the magic of theatre and performance. Westholme students are playing an active role in helping bring the production to life, working directly alongside Christina as the creative process begins.

Throughout the session, pupils explored the themes, characters and vision behind the story, whilst gaining valuable insight into how a book is transformed into a live theatrical production. Students had the opportunity to contribute ideas, develop performance skills and engage in early-stage creative discussions around staging and storytelling.

The workshop formed part of a wider collaboration designed to give young people meaningful experiences within the creative arts industry, while also celebrating the importance of local culture and identity. It was fantastic to see students embracing the opportunity with enthusiasm throughout the afternoon.

Mr Talyor, Principal of Westholme School, said: “This project exemplifies how we encourage our students to engage with the world outside the classroom, enhancing their civic awareness and sense of identity. We take pride in our Westholme students bringing to life the story of our town through what promises to be an exciting and meaningful production.”

With rehearsals and creative development set to continue over the coming months, we are excited to follow the journey of Believe in Magic as it progresses towards the stage.

We look forward to supporting Christina and celebrating this wonderful project alongside the wider Blackburn community.