Carolyn Keene reports:  Belated congratulations to the Isle of Wight’s very own Barton Primary School on winning this years Global Rock Challenge 2008.   The children from Barton Primary School won awards for best choreography, best concept originality and of course, overall first place. 

In all media reviews, the children were well deserved winners and gave an extrordinary if moving performance in their dramatic rendition of Valentine Grey.

Isle of Wight High Sheriff David Langford visited Southampton City Guildhall last month to see many of the Island Primary Schools take part.  The standards were very high and first prize was presented to Barton Primary School for their powerful rendition of the life and death of Valentine Gray the little Island chimney sweep who died at the age of 10 at the hands of his master.

The audience was brought to tears as the children acted out the tragic tale with superb drama skills and fast paced dancing.  They were then wowed by the skillful manipulation of 3 very scary-looking six foot tall puppets by 3 very focused children.

The judges said the performance was “clever, rivetting and had them on the edge of their seats”.  They were impressed by their “excellent account of a sad story”, the soundtrack including a song sung by the children themselves, and their “mature drama skills”.

“A big well done to all of the children for your outstanding performance, you are absolute stars.”

Read more reviews click Global Rock Challenge 2008 won by Barton Primary School HERE:

Isle of Wight Community News @Island Pulse.