The school’s tradition of high-octane multicultural whole-school productions was never better demonstrated with its cast of Saudi and Arab students working enthusiastically with a score of children of other nationalities in the happy Eastern fantasy that director Neil Hugo had renamed “Ali Baba and the 37and a Half Thieves.”

Hugo said that exhausting as the process had been for both staff and students, the children had learned so much from the process and that would be extremely valuable for their future lives.

“The discipline of learning the lines and stage business, having to get on together for the sake of the production and realizing that everyone has a talent that they can contribute to the final performances are valuable transferable skills. The maxim ‘all the world’s a stage’ is truer than many at first realize and after the incredible and sustained effort those involved put in to this, it’s a lesson well learned. I was extremely proud of each and every one of the 220 students on the stage,” Hugo said after the final curtain.

Months of work, two dress rehearsals and six performances had welded the cast and behind-the-scenes team, without which no production can ever hit the stage, into a theatrical troupe that had the audience applauding and joining in the energetically delivered set pieces and rising to acclaim the cast and crew.

The note of pathos came with the knowledge that this was the last production Hugo will oversee before he leaves to take up a post in China in July. Dressed in full Baghdadi finery, he was presented with a magnificent Saudi saber as a gift.

The tradition of the school’s theatrical productions will however carry on said Bruce Gamwell, BISJ Director. “Quite apart from the educational, team building aspects and valuable experience, the pupils see it as huge fun which is a valuable element in learning.”