He’s performed on David Letterman, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and even in front of Queen Elizabeth II, but Raymond Crowe’s latest appearance was a very special one.

The world-famous “unusualist” – who went viral for his shadow puppetry performance of Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World (pictured right) – was back at the school he graduated from in 1979 to help open a new performing arts facility named in his honour.

The Raymond Crowe Performing Arts Centre, part of a $14 million upgrade at Valley View Secondary School, includes a studio space, a recording studio and theatre with seating for up to 200 people.

The Raymond building also includes a learning hub, general teaching and learning areas, wellbeing space, and a new front reception to greet visitors to the school in Para Vista.

The upper level of the Arman Building, named after former student, City of Adelaide Councillor and prominent anti-domestic violence campaigner Arman Abrahimzadeh, OAM, was also refurbished, including five new classrooms.

Students will also benefit from a new covered outdoor learning area, which has provided an additional inviting space to use for learning and break times.

The north-eastern school has seen an incredible transformation in the past few years with enrolment figures almost doubling, growing from 278 students in 2017 to 524 in 2023.

Principal Yvette Swaalf said that the school’s motto was Every Student Matters, and that the facilities upgrade had “certainly shown our students how valued they are and had a big impact on the learning culture in our school community”.

“The new centre will bolster our performing arts curriculum across dance, drama and music, and we’re thrilled to be able to name the space in honor of our school ambassador Raymond Crowe,” Ms Swaalf said.

“New classrooms along with flexible learning spaces are all welcome additions to our school and will support staff to continue delivering our learning program to give every student the opportunity to realise their potential.”