From fairy tales to stage tales, Rand Park high school hosts A Cinder Ella Story

Rand Park High School delighted young audiences with a magical performance of A Cinder Ella Story on May 12. The special preview show, held for Grade 6 learners from Rand Park Primary and North West Christian School, turned the classic fairytale into a modern, inspiring tale filled with laughter and life lessons.

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The school hall was packed as the high school drama team put a fresh spin on the story of Cinderella, adding new twists that made it both funny and meaningful for the young audience. Instead of glass slippers, Ella, played by Grade 12 learner Ayole Skitshana, wore sneakers, showing her as practical, bold, and not afraid to break away from tradition.

In this version, Ella doesn’t dream of a prince to save her. She wants to become a businesswoman who designs and sells her own dresses. This change gave the character more depth, showing her as someone with ambition and a strong sense of self.

Ayole brought Ella to life with her beautiful singing and confident stage presence. Reflecting on her journey, she shared: “I struggle with self-confidence because I’m really a soft-spoken person, but I love performing and singing. I thought, before finishing matric, I should try something big like this. It worked out for me and helped build me as a person.”

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The updated story also gave a new look to the prince, played by Dean Kingsley. Rather than the usual perfect fairytale figure, this prince faces self-doubt and pressure to fit into society’s expectations. His journey mirrored Ella’s, and their connection on stage felt more real, based, not just on romance, but on shared experiences of wanting to be accepted as they truly are.

The entire cast brought energy, charm, and humour to the performance. Colourful costumes, clever set design, and witty lines kept the audience laughing and clapping throughout the show. The young learners reacted with joy, making the morning feel more like a celebration than just a play.

Sofia Tromp, a Grade 6 learner from Rand Park Primary, said: “I loved the show. It was really funny and interesting,” even though she wasn’t very familiar with the original Cinderella story.

Grade 6 leader at Rand Park Primary, Kovash Moodley, praised the high school’s continued excellence. “We’ve been coming to Rand Park High for five to six years, and their performances are always stellar. They never let us down. I also enjoy seeing my past students now shining here.”

Rand Park High has once again delivered a fun, heart-warming show that entertains while also sending a powerful message about being true to yourself.

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