Hartlepool academy's Greatest Showman video goes viral

Catcote Academy performing arts 6th form students (left to right) Olivia Kerr-Morgan, Alfie Willoughby and Chloe Chawner. Picture by FRANK REID

All of Catcote Academy starred in the video, called a Lip Dub, where they lip-synced to the song This Is Me from the hit movie musical The Greatest Showman.

Lip Dubs are a popular craze in American schools and Catcote Academy’s has been watched by over 30,000 people in a matter of days after being posted to their Facebook page.

The academy says it is a real struggle to get government funding, especially for performing arts.

It has also created a GoFundMe page to try to raise some money for school shows and other projects.

Rick Kitson, performing arts teacher at Catcote Academy, said: “Every single student loved being part of it, even ones who find the simplest things difficult.

“All he kids have been obsessing over The Greatest Showman since it came out.

Left to right: Olivia Kerr-Morgan, Alfie Willoughby and Chloe Chawner. Picture by Frank Reid

“When I heard this song it just resonated with us.

“It’s about people who are different and face boundaries and barriers in every day life.

“That’s what we do as a school – try and break down those barriers and encourage people to understand who they are, what we do and how amazing these kids are.”

The carefully choreographed four-minute video starts with individual students mouthing the words to the song before moving through the school’s corridors as more and more pupils and staff join in ending with everyone being involved.

It was all recorded in one take and took four attempts.

The video racked up 18,000 views in its first 24 hours and has now surpassed 31,000.

It has been shared almost 1,000 times and has also been posted on to YouTube.

Rick, who directed the video, added: “We are blown away. The reason we have done it is because funding is really poor.

“We have to do a lot of fundraising do to any sort of performing arts.

“We did The Jungle Book earlier this year when over 500 people came to watch.

“We just want to do more of these things. We would like to put on another musical next year.

“We could also use the money so we can make movies, music videos and record songs.”

To donate to Catcote Academy’s performing arts go to