School wins Disney competition to stage Frozen

Kirsten Watson, centre, is head of expressive arts at The Arnewood School

A school will be the first institution of it's kind in Europe to stage the hit Broadway musical Frozen, after it won a national competition.

The Arnewood School, in New Milton, Hampshire, won the United Kingdom of Frozen: Love is an Open Door competition.

It is one of just 11 winners across the UK - meaning the school will receive the stage rights, script and score materials for the Disney production.

The musical is based on the 2013 movie of the same name - which is one of the most successful animated films ever, with box office takings of more than £1.25bn.

Judges from the Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Group selected Arnewood from entrants across the south east of England.

Their application, which was an adaptation of the song Love is an Open Door, was made by the schools' head of expressive arts, Kirsten Watson.

Frozen the Musical opened on the West End in 2021

“Having the opportunity to offer Frozen as our school production, and to promote its themes across our whole school community, will be incredible," she said.

“We have a varied intake and want to champion inclusivity and ability to express ourselves.

“We cannot wait to make the most of this unique opportunity to showcase Frozen the Musical and build snowmen and memories with the whole community.”

Every student who auditions for the show will be given a part in the production, Ms Watson added.

The nationwide competition coincided with Frozen leaving London's West End in September, having first opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in September 2021.

Disney said the competition allowed the stage journey of the "beloved story" to continue in the UK.

The storyline of the musical is broadly the same as in the movie, with songs such as Let It Go and Do You Want To Build A Snowman all appearing in the production.