Burgess Hill Girls buzzing after the success of its production of Come From Away
Last week, Burgess Hill Girls proudly celebrated the success of its 2026 senior school production of Come From Away, which brought together students, staff, and visiting performers to share a story rooted in empathy, resilience and togetherness.
The audience left each of the four sell out performances acknowledging what that had seen, with standing ovations and rapturous applause for the talented young cast.
The school became the first in Sussex to stage a production of the internationally acclaimed musical, and the achievement was recognised with a Certificate of Nomination for Best Musical from the National School Theatre Awards 2026.
Head, Heather Cavanagh, said:
'I am so very proud of the whole cast and crew; their dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm shone through every performance from the stage to the lighting, the music and the front-of-house crew. This production left every member of the audience enthralled, which was a wonderful thing to witness. I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in a show worthy of the many accolades the show team has already received.'
The musical tells the remarkable true story of how the small town of Gander, Newfoundland welcomed nearly 7,000 stranded passengers when 38 planes were unexpectedly diverted there following the 9/11 attacks.
Emma Cassim, Director of the show and Director of Drama at the school who celebrated her 40th production at Burgess Hill Girls reflected on bringing the musical to life:
'Even in the darkest moments, kindness and community can prevail. Come From Away reminded us of the extraordinary capacity for empathy that exists in all of us; something this remarkable group of students embodied throughout the entire run. This production demanded total focus, unity and trust, and the cast rose to the challenge with energy, precision and extraordinary generosity.'
She highlighted the show’s ensemble-driven nature, intricate harmonies, and the collaborative storytelling that relied on each performer contributing at every moment.
She also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the creative team:
'My sincere thanks to our wonderful Musical Director, David Black, our Production Designer and Manager, Dan Pook-Barnes, and our Choreographer, Bethany Gavin; working with her had been a 15-year dream in the making.'
February 2026