Sixth Formers are major players in the school’s many drama productions as actors, scenery designers, sound and lighting engineers and they also direct some of the year’s key productions. They mastermind every aspect of the annual production of the School Shakespeare Society (a society older, even, than the Royal Shakespeare Company) and combine with musicians to mount the annual school musical, which always plays to packed houses.
In their final year, the Upper Sixth also direct, produce and act in their own ‘valedictory performance’ – always a great piece of theatre.
Drama has always been a great Hurst strength and the College has two theatres of its own - the large Bury Theatre and the smaller and more intimate Drama Studio (opened by Simon Russell Beale) which can be re-configured to enable almost any play to be staged successfully.
A brief summary of the 'non-examination' productions involving Sixth Formers during the past academic year gives an indication of the strength of drama in Hurst and the opportunities for those who join Hurst’s flourishing Sixth Form.
Lower Sixth former Rebecca Kerr directed this tour-de-force production – brilliantly capturing the sight, taste and smell of the Porters’ claustrophobic life in a grotty, little garret in 1950s England - with confidence and poise.
The play was a part of the Hurst Festival, is an excellent opportunity for the College to showcase its work to a wider audience and here we were clearly treated to a taste of the remarkable talent Hurstpierpoint College has within its walls.
One member of the audience at the first night of ‘The Chrysalids’ was overheard to say "That was one of the most stunning pieces of theatre I've ever seen". Another said: "I've never been to anything like that in my life". Praise indeed for Francesca Zoutewelle's follow-up to the successful ‘Chatroom’ (which she directed whilst still a Hurst Upper Sixth former) last year.
The production started in sinister fashion in the Chapel, but swiftly moved off around the College, following the plight of David Strorm and his friends, all of whom communicate with each other telepathically in a post-apocalyptic society.
The cast work beautifully as an ensemble, supporting each other all the way and the impact of this production remains still with all who were privileged witnesses.
After Dr Faustus, Les Misérables, the challenge for this year’s major Shakespeare production was to lighten the mood somewhat and thus the choice of that barking-mad romp, ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The plot is pure Whitehall farce, and the cast had quickly mastered all the techniques necessary for the genre, including slapstick and then the Shakespearean language to boot! The result was great fun and enormously entertaining for cast and audiences alike.
This keenly fought competition releases some of the enormous creativity present in the school. It involves all year-groups but Sixth-Formers, in particular, play a pivotal role in pulling their house’s contribution together. This year’s winner was Fleur’s ‘Hansel & Gretel’ from Carol Ann Duffy’s Grimm Tales. This was not only grim, but downright scary. It was beautifully set with great use of lighting. There was great ensemble playing with beautiful, gorgeous precision. The contrast of voices between the mad grandmother and the children was very effective. Commendations were awarded to Abigail Walker and Bridget Mullany.
In Godspell, St Matthew’s account of Jesus’ ministry springs to life through a wonderful mix of parables, storytelling, pantomime, music hall and a string of stunning songs including ‘Day by Day’, ‘By My Side’ ‘Turn Back O Man’ and ‘Prepare Ye the Way of The Lord’.
The Hurst production was a fast-paced, joyous and sometimes profound entertainment. Every member of the cast remained engaged for every moment they were on stage and the singers, punched out their songs to the audience with the skill of professionals. The company effortlessly switched between wit, humour and slapstick without compromising the many powerful, and at times genuinely moving, moments in the show. ‘The result was’, as the correspondent in one local newspaper noted, ‘by any standards, a stunning success’.
The 2008, Upper Sixth Form Valedictory play was challenging yet the cast only had a week to work rehearse. The effort that went into its refinement was astonishing, with amazing attention to detail and in the end, there was a remarkably self-assured performance from the entire cast, some of whom had never acted before. The Leavers’ play is a hugely valuable tradition. It pulls a year group together either by participating in it or by supporting it, a line is drawn under a whole school career and for many the experience is significant in terms of self-development.
11 March 2010