The despatch CHRISTMAS 2023
The Red Shoes: Behind the Scenes
The Red Shoes was the Lower School production of 2023. It was excellent
(if I may say so myself), with all sorts of roles and a wonderfully dark story.
So, let me lead you along the twisted paths of this tale …
There were three ensembles, each rehearsing in turn on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays for an entire term, leading up to three full
performances in the week prior to Founder ’ s Day.
The performances included some stage magic: in the first act Jack
(played by Arun Slatter) was forced into a small box, and had magically
disappeared by the time the box was destroyed. This was achieved by Jack
walking out of the box behind two other actors after the front had been
constructed but before the back had been put together. The second piece of
magic may have been a little more obvious. The Child (played by Cassius
Flemyng) supposedly had his feet cut off. This was done by some people
flinging red petals out to the sides, as a distraction and to represent blood,
while others put red bandages around his ankles.
The production was deemed a success, but sadly it will not be
performed again very soon.
It is goodbye to The Red
Shoes, and hello to
whatever we ’ re doing for
the next Lower School
Production in 2024.
By Kit Fisher
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