A TRIPLE-BILL TREAT AT THE GEORGIAN THEATRE ROYAL

Drama and Performing Arts students performed a triple bill to a full house at The Georgian Theatre Royal. The three performances, which were entirely the students’ own work, were examination pieces for their A-level Drama and Theatre Studies and Ctec Performing Arts.

The first two segments were from Year 13 Performing Arts students Poppy Mortimer and Zara Brown who, as a part of their Directing unit, staged a short performance of their choice which was cast and directed by themselves. The students were given total creative freedom for their interpretations, and they each produced an impressive piece of work. Both students were responsible for all the technical elements of their production including lighting, sound, set and costume.

Poppy chose to stage a comedy titled ‘A Not So Dark and Stormy Night’ by EJ McFall. The play is a (We know WhoDunit) melodrama script. Her hilarious piece is based at a resort cabin by a lake in the middle of nowhere. Two murder mystery writers, Agatha Grimes and Martha Christie are both working on the final stages of their chilling novels.

Zara chose to stage a comedy titled ‘All’s Not Well That Ends Well’ by Juliet Devon. The play is based on a school drama rehearsal where despite a number of cast members being missing, Drama Teacher Nikki is pressing on with her rehearsal of ‘All’s Well…’ Unfortunately, she also has to contend with pupils sent to her for detention, the cleaner, and the Headteacher.

As the college welcomes back the Drama and Theatre Studies A Level course, the third and final segment of the evening was the Year 12 examination work for their Devised component. They presented a physical piece titled ‘Untitled’ which was devised from the play ‘Attempts on Her Life’ by Martin Crimp. The students were given an extract from the play to act as a stimulus along with the practitioner of Antonin Artaud to base their work on. Antonin Artaud’s methodologies look at attacking the audience’s senses and that they did! The audience were thrown into the natural and unnatural world presented to them looking at a variety of different conflicts we find in the world we live in.

Stephen Birdsall, Drama Teacher, said: “The standard of work presented during the evening was exceptionally high.  I am super proud of the independence, determination and creativity shown by both Year 12 and 13 students along with the younger cast used by Zara in her piece. A huge well done to the Year 12s who not only had their formal examination themselves, but also performed in ‘A Not So Dark and Stormy Night’ for Poppy’s directorial assessment.  As always, our students are excellent, professional ambassadors for Richmond School & Sixth Form College and thoroughly enjoy working in a professional setting at the Georgian Theatre Royal.”