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Meet the band: Who are School of Rock's young headbangers?

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater and Julian Fellowes’ latest musical features a lot of very, very talented kids. Here we find out what makes them rock

Jake Slack and Dewey Fynn in School of Rock
Jake Slack and David Fynn in School of Rock
©Tristram Kenton

The new musical adaptation of the hit film School of Rock – The Musical is about to open in the West End. Andrew Lloyd Webber has ignored the old saying – 'Never work with children and animals' – and has a cast of 39 young people (three sets of 13) who rock out like crazy on stage. Here we find out a little bit more about a few of them.

Name: Noah Key
Age: 12
Home county? Shropshire
Instrument: Drums
Role name: Freddie
Favourite School of Rock moment: Playing "Teacher’s Pet" at the end of the show. It's such a buzz and the audience go mad!!!
Who would be your ideal bandmates? McFly! They are awesome! But I'd also like to form a band with the other kids in School of Rock!
What would be your rock and roll anthem? "5 Colours in Her Hair" by McFly. Me and my housemates play it all the time! It's great fun to play and we just LOVE IT!!!!


Name: Toby Lee
Age: 11
Home county? Warwickshire
Instrument: Electric guitar
Role name: Zack Mooneyham
Favourite School of Rock moment: When I tell my Dad what I think of him! But my favourite moment is in "Teacher's Pet" when I take the solo and end it with a knee slide and playing on my back! Rock and roll!!
Who would be your ideal bandmates? Stevie Ray Vaughan because he is my guitar hero and I could learn so much from him. But I'd also take Jimi Hendrix, Gary Moore or Joe Bonamassa.
What would be your rock and roll anthem? "We Will Rock You" because the second that drum beat starts everyone knows it and is on their feet.


Name: Lois Purdey Jenkins
Age: 11
Home county? London
Instrument: Bass guitar
Role name: Katie
Favourite School of Rock moment: I love performing in "Time To Play" because it’s complicated and really hard work but great fun and a cool song.
Who would be your ideal bandmates? I would love to be in Blur because I think their music is really original and creative.
What would be your rock and roll anthem? "Song 2" by Blur. It was one of the first songs I learned playing drums in my Year 6 school rock band and I also got to play the drums for this at my first School of Rock audition.


Name: Oscar Francisco
Age: 12
Home county? West Midlands
Instrument: Keyboards
Role name: Lawrence
Favourite School of Rock moment: Billy 'the stylist' uses Lawrence as a (really!) reluctant 'model' for his costume 'creations' for the battle of the bands. The silver 'Ziggy' boots with their seven-inch heels are brilliant and really comfortable to dance in! #showsecret
Who would be your ideal bandmates? I can honestly say I’ve had such a blast rehearsing with my School of Rock bandmates (Team Bass) that I would pick them every time. However, if Axl Rose showed up at my door and Freddie Mercury miraculously came back from the dead and Lin Manuel Miranda decided to take a break from rapping and turn rock, I probably wouldn’t turn them away.
What would be your rock and roll anthem? "Sweet Child O' Mine" – the opening guitar riff, the thumping drums, the rock screaming (I’m great in the shower at that), the rock hair.


Name: Jake Lee Slack
Age: 13
Home county? Buckinghamshire
Instrument: The Axe (er sorry… Guitar)
Role name: Zack Mooneyham
Favourite School of Rock moment: I totally love "Teacher's Pet" in the battle of the bands contest, because of all the energy. We get to jump around loads and really rock out and I also get to play my guitar solo.
Who would be your ideal bandmates? Definitely Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) or Slash because they are my idols – although not at the same time, three guitarists would probably be overkill!
What would be your rock and roll anthem? "Devil In I" by Slipknot. I absolutely love Slipknot and all of their songs get me really super pumped, but "Devil In I" takes me to a new level – it makes me want to destroy stuff… I probably shouldn’t say that should I?


Name: Giles Carden
Age: 12
Home county? Surrey
Instrument: Piano
Role name: Lawrence
Favourite School of Rock moment: My favourite line is 'I know what it feels like to be fat and lonely and have no friends.' Then I say 'I never said I was fat!'. I really enjoy saying it because it is so funny. I once even almost laughed on stage saying it.
Who would be your ideal bandmates? For me it would have to be Stevie Wonder or BB King. I am a big soul and jazz fan as well as a rocker so it would be really fun.
What would be your rock and roll anthem? I like "American Idiot" because it is a fast paced, high energy song and makes me want to dance.


Name: Bailey Cassell
Age: 11
Home county? Essex
Instrument: Drums
Role name: Freddy
Favourite School of Rock moment: 'Hahaha How!' When Freddy (me!) comes out of the tent as Red Indian. I am funny!!
Who would be your ideal bandmates? Giles (keys), Jake (guitar) and Selma (bass) from SOR. We are going to be in an epic band! Wait and see….
What would be your rock and roll anthem? "Basketcase" by Greenday. It shows freedom, it rocks, it’s awesome.


Name: Sophia Pettit
Age: 13
Home county? London
Instrument: Bass guitar
Role name: Katie
Favourite School of Rock moment: Favourite moment is "Teacher’s Pet" because the reaction from the audience is amazing and it gives me the opportunity to rock out on stage.
Who would be your ideal bandmates? Guns N' Roses as I love their music. "Sweet Child O' Mine" is my all-time favourite. (I’m a sweet child!!)
What would be your rock and roll anthem? "We Will Rock You" by Queen. It always gets everyone up on their feet clapping and is a feel-good anthem.

School of Rock – The Musical is currently in previews at the New London Theatre. It opens 14 November and runs to 12 February 2017.

Click here to buy tickets to School of Rock