Shanties

Hastings International Piano collaborated with Hastings Contemporary and the White Rock Theatre to deliver an inspiring, creative event and performance called Shanties Showcase involving 60 students from Ore Village Primary School. 

Organised by Hastings Contemporary as part of their Pearls of The Sea school’s engagement programme. The day’s activities began with art workshops, theatre tours, sea shanty singing and music workshops run by HIP. The event was rounded off with a performance for 200 people in the studio theatre featuring the White Rock Youth Theatre, Ore Village Primary students and a local sea shanty group called Completely Scuppered who had everyone on their feet singing The Drunken Sailor to end the day! 

Amongst the participants were 20 Year 5 students who had previously taken part in our music composition workshop, where they collaboratively wrote their own original song about the Titanic.  Inspired by their sea-themed choice of piece, we decided to run a JustGiving Campaign to ensure they could perform it on stage at the Shanties Showcase with professional pianist Gabrielė Sutkutė. Poppy, one of the students was beaming on arrival and said, “I was so excited for the performance today that I couldn’t sleep!” 

The year 5 students brought the house down with their song Titanic Tale which even featured actions, and a reimagined Titanic created using their bodies! HIP’s Learning & Participation Coordinator, Rosa Amor said “you can really feel the children’s sense of ownership with this piece as they have been part of every aspect of the creative process: lyrics, melody, movement, staging and dynamics.” 

One of the students, Oscar,  grew in confidence throughout the process and at the last minute stepped in to sing a duet and said “before performing I felt so nervous, but singing was so much fun and after I just wanted to do it again. I felt so proud of myself''. Their school teacher, Miss Sheldrake was delighted with their participation, commenting: “our Year 5 students have got so much out of performing today and have been exposed to the most beautiful music from Gabrielė. They went home feeling so inspired!” 

The staff at the White Rock Theatre closed the show by thanking everyone for supporting performance opportunities for young people highlighting the fact that for many of the children, it would have been their first time on a stage. HIP were grateful to play a part in what was such a special day for so many local children.  

Shanties Showcase - Tuesday 4th February 2025, White Rock Theatre