The BTEC Performing Arts pupils took to the stage for their first performance of the calendar year...
Focusing on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we saw a range of scenes from the text, displaying an excellent understanding of the style and performance skills needed.
To kick the evening off, the L6th Form pupils each delivered a monologue to the audience. They have been rehearsing these for several weeks, and were focusing on developing clear characters, and specifically, ones that contrasted the group work to follow. Following this, the L6th Form class focused on the Mechanicals scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, specifically when the characters are given their roles for the play of Pyramus and Thisbe. I really enjoyed this adaptation, particularly the energy of the characters on stage. There was a clear hierarchy, with Quince orchestrating the scene from centre stage, and Bottom running from side to side trying to prove his acting skills to the others. Whilst the language may be hard for the audience to understand, the acting skills and delivery meant that we were able to follow the scene throughout.
Finally, as the performance element of Unit 18 Classical Text in Performance, the U6th Form performed three different scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with the aim of demonstrating their understanding of classical performance techniques and how these can be adapted for the modern audience. All actors were multi-rolling and were challenged with developing characters that were clear and believable to the audience whilst communicating the intentions of the characters to the audience. They outlined one of the main challenges that Shakespearean texts present is understanding the language, and consequently, ensuring the audience understands it too. I felt that all members of the cast did this superbly. Their characters were highly engaging and communicated the status and relationships with a mature execution of the language and style. Well done.
Will Stainton - Head of Performing Arts
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