BODY image, abuse, homosexuality, bullying and the trauma of adolescence are all themes to be confronted in a hard-hitting stage performance by Exeter College students next month.

Over 100 young musicians, dancers and other college students are involved in putting on Michael Bennett’s gritty musical, A Chorus Line, at the Barnfield Theatre on April 2, 3 and 4.

It follows on from Exeter College’s extremely successful and sell-out production of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana last year.

Many will remember the 1985 film adaptation of A Chorus Line directed by Sir Richard Attenborough and starring Michael Douglas. It won huge box office and critical success including being nominated for three Oscars and two Golden Globes. But prior to the film’s success, the musical of the same name was the longest-running musical on Broadway before 1997 and won the Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as 12 Tony nominations. Based on the true life experiences of Broadway dancers in the 1970s, the show charts the highs and lows of the 19 main characters through humorous, touching and sometimes painful reminiscences of their lives. It features jazz, ballet and tap dancing and the memorable songs ‘One’, ‘At the Ballet’ and ‘What I did for Love’.

Exeter College students from a wide range of courses and levels will be involved in the production as musical theatre performers, musicians, set designers and builders, stage management and crew, costume and prop makers, lighting engineers, front-of house staff, administrators and marketers.

Judy Lye-Forster, director and choreographer of A Chorus Line and Deputy Head of media and performing arts at Exeter College, said: “A Chorus Line has recently enjoyed a revival at the Gerald Schoenfield Theatre, Broadway. This extremely exciting time in the musical’s history seemed like the perfect opportunity to rise to the challenge of staging it here as our college production. A Chorus Line has a particular place in my heart because it focuses on the often ‘unsung heroes’ of theatre – the dancers. Not the big names or the stars that everyone knows, but the ensemble – the group of men and women who work tirelessly day in and day out.

Our production is, in itself, a unique experience at Exeter College, not only for the cast and crew but for the production team also. Each year the company is drawn from across the college, from Level 2 students to Degree students. From the introductory session in the first week of the autumn term until the week of the show, the rehearsals cause a hive of activity every Wednesday afternoon giving the students the opportunity to participate as performers, musicians, administrators and backstage. For some, elements of the show may seem coarse or painfully personal, but it must be remembered that the physicality, sexuality and identity of each of these characters is something they are constantly being asked to focus on and deal with, and it is this that makes them the individuals that go on to make the whole.

“A Chorus Line epitomises the constant filtering of performers until only a few remain. This is the lot we draw when we choose to enter the world of performing arts. However, it is the constant longing and need we have for doing what we do that keeps us going, in short the passion, the adrenaline and the hope. This high energy and exciting show has moments that will have you on the edge of your seat with anticipation, concern and excitement. Come along for a roller-coaster ride of emotion and see the students of Exeter College act, sing and dance their hearts out for you.”

The three evening performances of A Chorus Line at the Barnfield in Exeter are at 7.30pm on 2, 3 and 4 April. There will also be a matinee performance at 2pm on Wednesday, 2 April. Tickets are £8 with £5 for concessions and are available from the Barnfield’s box office on 01392 270891.