Programme design cover by Mahmoud, Year 8
There were rave reviews all round for the Year 5-Year 8 production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The evening started with pre-show refreshments on the lawn where guests gathered for a Pimms, nibbles and natter.
Then they headed over to a theatre transformed into a enchanted fairy land. And enchanting really is the word to describe the whole evening. With an immersive stage set, mesmerising music, charming costumes and brilliant comic timings, it was a delight for the senses.
“It was such a wonderfully memorable performance by all!! Well done everyone from cast to crew to staff!!” (Facebook review)
“From the moment we entered the theatre the lighting, beautiful decoration with the ivy winding round the seating areas, the flowers around the stage and the stage sets with the illuminated “pictures” in the frames we knew we were in for something very special. The ongoing use of lights (I loved the little touches like the fairy one of the frames), the imaginative costumes were prefect.” (Email from audience member)
Due to the high level of interest from pupils who wanted to take part, which was just over 70 pupils, two casts were used and performed the play on separate evenings.
Both were brilliant. For those who were lucky enough to attend both performances it meant they really did get to see two different plays as the actors and actresses brought their own personal interpretation of the characters to the stage.
The dialogue was the original Shakespearean version which provided an extra challenge to the young cast but they all carried it off admirably. It would be unfair to single anyone out as there was such a great level of delivery across both casts. Well done to all the performers!
“Though they be but little, they be fierce”
Mel Bicknell, Head of Drama
We must not forget the engine room production team who worked so effectively to bring the magic to life. Thank to our student designers from Year 9 and 10 who developed the set and costumes, a Year 11 assistant director and a Year 12 student technical manager who helped design and programme the lights.
The show was truly a student-led endeavour and this was further enhanced by the Art department running a competition with Year 8 graphic design students to design the programme cover. There were a number of great entries but the chosen one was by Mahmoud which we think reflected the mood and ambience of the play set perfectly. Well done to Mahmoud too!
