In The Press
Caretaker's star role in school's sci-fi musical
From The Bath Chronicle Thu 17 Jul, 2008
From The Bath Chronicle
July 17 2008
CARETAKER’S STAR TURN IN SCHOOL’S SCI-FI MUSICAL
It is a job that has never had the most glamorous of images.
TV programmes such as Grange Hill stereotyped the school caretaker as a miserable jobsworth in a brown coat.
But for children at a Bath school, their caretaker is something of a hero.
For years, 50-year old Tom Woods made his living creating sculptures from driftwood washed up onto Cornish beaches.
But now he uses his talents to add a touch of magic to drama productions by pupils at the Royal High Junior School.
At this year’s performance of the children’s musical Blast Off! A life-size Dalek, a Tardis and a space rocket almost stole the show.
School caretaker Mr Woods, who studied sculpture at the Central School of Art and Design in London, has been making props for shows since he began work at the independent school in 2006.
He said: ”The children love learning how the props and sets are made and are always asking me questions.
“I find it to be incredibly rewarding as. Although most of my creations only have a short life span, they hopefully bring the productions to life and enrich the pupils’ experience of their time on stage.”
In his spare time, he continues to design and make furniture and lights and a few years ago was commissioned top create a dining table for a senior policeman in London.
Mr Woods lives on site with his wife Lynne and seven year old son Dan.
He always enjoyed creating props and toys when his other two children who are now grown up were younger – and now makes them for Dan.
Mr Woods built the four metre high rocket especially for the show taking inspiration from the Tin Tin story Explorers On The Moon.
He originally made the Dalek for Dan’s sixth birthday party and the Tardis for an exhibition, but found they were perfect for the school production.
Blast Off! Is the story of a school threatened with closure by an Ofsted inspector, whose headmistress and pupils are launched into space where they meet time travellers and aliens.
It was performed by all the pupils in Years 5 and 6.
Director of performing arts at the school, Adrienne Hale, said: “This is a great show for schools to put on because the children love the wacky storyline and the colourful characters.
“We had enormous fun in the rehearsals and everyone marvelled at the stunning props created for us by our Tom.”
Although Mr Woods is currently working full time as the school caretaker, he would ultimately like to work professionally on set design.
He said: “I am really interested in doing work on sets for the Royal Shakespeare Company – that would be fantastic.”
Anyone interested in commissioning work by Mr Woods can contact him at the school.
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