At the heart of an imaginary kingdom, in a medieval-fantasy world filled with prophecies and vibrant characters, a fiercely feminist princess tries to escape her destiny. A love-struck jester, an arrogant captain of the guard, and a mysterious vigilante... these are the colourful protagonists of a musical like no other, directed by Julien Erny, music teacher at Ermitage International School and a passionate director.

Behind the magic of the performance lies an entire ecosystem of students, teachers, and parents who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this ambitious project to life. Step into the wings of this extraordinary production, where passion, dedication, and teamwork take centre stage.

The Prophecy of the Night Vigilante

Written and directed by Julien Erny, this story takes place in a medieval-fantasy world within a kingdom ruled by a kind and obliging king. His daughter, of marriageable age, is at the centre of a prophecy foretelling that she must marry “the Night Vigilante,” a mysterious and solitary hero. However, the princess - a staunch extremist feminist - wants to “bypass” the prophecy to avoid this marriage.

Meanwhile, one of the king’s jesters, secretly in love with the princess, also hopes to thwart the prophecy so he can marry her. Finally, the king’s captain of the guard, a deeply misogynistic and macho champion of the kingdom, also wants to marry the princess, but only to gain access to the throne.

A Bold and Humorous Musical

Julien Erny describes this show as the most socially engaged of the six musicals he has directed. Through exaggerated, deliberately over-the-top characters, he explores the extremes of ideology whether they’re feminist or misogynistic, in a critical yet humorous way. His goal was to make the audience laugh, while also giving them food for thought.

He particularly enjoyed writing this musical, from the witty dialogue to the songs, each outdoing the last in wit and irony.

Julien Erny, music teacher at Ermitage International School and a passionate director.

Julien transgresses established codes and embraces creative challenges. In this show, for instance, he turns “the hero’s timeless declaration of love” into “a duo that’s both funny and ludicrous.” The message he hopes to convey through this play is “the importance of feeling useful and seen in order to truly live.”

An Incredible Journey Led by a United Cast

Behind this three-hour show were months of intense rehearsals. Among the biggest challenges: fitting 42 Ermitage students, from CE2 to Terminale into a small space of just 8 meters by 3, and encouraging them to “get out of their cocoon.”

The students interviewed all spoke of an incredibly rewarding experience, filled with moments of stress, self-doubt, laughter, and pride. Then, Mr. Erny described a “magical” group spirit that pushed everyone to go beyond their limits and deliver a truly outstanding performance.

Unique Choreography and Staging

The success of the show also relied on the outstanding work of Ms. Laura, a CM2 teacher at Ermitage and the production’s choreographer. Although she joined the adventure relatively late, she quickly proved to be remarkably effective. With 20 years of experience in writing and directing shows, she let the music guide her in creating a unique choreography, visually striking and perfectly suited to the students’ level.

Thanks to her dedication and a rigorous, sustained effort, the students achieved a level of group synchronisation that, according to Laura, “truly makes the difference in elevating choreos.”

A Project Fuelled by Community Spirit

Beyond the performers on stage, the entire school took part in the project. Non-acting students handled technical support, communications, and welcoming the audience. Volunteer parents helped build the sets, sewed over 200 costumes, crafted headpieces, and photographed the students during the show.

Mr. Erny emphasised the essential role these parent volunteers played: “We owe them everything, without them, none of this would have been possible!”

Indeed, these parents worked tirelessly, sometimes even on weekends, to support the students and ensure the success of the event. “It was a true collective challenge that required a lot of planning and organisation,” notes Sabrina, the coordinator of volunteer parents. Everything was carefully planned to make sure the children had a great time.

In fact, all the volunteers interviewed expressed their desire to continue getting involved in future productions, a testament to the exceptional experience they had.

Every Detail Counts: Unveiling the Magic of Costumes

According to Jana, a volunteer parent, “each costume was designed to make the children feel proud of their role.” Nothing was left to chance: from the harmony of colours to custom fittings, every detail was carefully considered. Some costumes required meticulous work over several days, and Sophie, one of the volunteer mums, did an outstanding job on several key pieces.

Bound by the Stage, United by the Troupe

For many students, this musical was much more than just a school activity. It was a transformative human experience. Laurene, who played the role of the king’s minstrel, said she felt “the spirit of the troupe” that united them all. What stood out most to her was “that a troupe is a troupe, and it will always be there to support everyone.”

In the same spirit, Gabriel highlights that they became “one big group of friends” and that “age and/or grade level of the other actors had little impact on their ability to be friendly to each other.”

Students Transformed by the Stage

Other students discovered through this show their love for the acting and singing. Baptiste, who plays the main antagonist, says that “the incredible compliments” he received for his performance “motivated him even more” to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Tess, for her part, feels that “being on stage gives you a real sense of power,” whether through delivering lines or singing verses.

Julien Erny, the director of this lively troupe, sums it up with emotion: “I have seen them grow so much - masterfully, for some - in just a few months.”

From the Spotlight to Everlasting Memories

When the curtain fell, in backstage there was a mix of joy, exhaustion, and nostalgia. “After the show, I felt sad because it was the end of such a beautiful adventure with an extraordinary troupe,” confides Baptiste. But the memories will remain: iconic lines, laughter during rehearsals, heartfelt applause… and above all, the feeling of having experienced something truly unique.

After performing two nights in a row, the students and volunteer parents closed the curtain on this unique chapter of their lives. Sabrina recalls a deeply moving moment filled with “immense joy and great pride in seeing all these happy children bring their roles to life on stage and in costumes” created by the volunteers. Despite the stress, the students shone brightly on stage, each one making their role truly sparkle. Laura, the show’s choreographer, says they “fed their souls” through their performances.

Mr. Erny describes the students’ professionalism, as well as the mutual trust that prevailed within the troupe. He also talks about the joy he felt working alongside “true artists” and the honour he had in directing them.

The 2025 musical at Ermitage International School will undoubtedly remain etched in everyone’s minds. A show, memories, and above all, an unforgettable human adventure!