The Alleynian 704 2016

DRAMA

REVIEW

THE VIRTUOSO AND THE VERSATILE Middle School House Drama

Steve Atkinson Photographs by Ed Reid (Year 13) and Maggie Jarman

O ne hundred years on from the death of William Shakespeare, it is reassuring to see that the spirit of Bankside is alive and well at Dulwich College. Shakespeare, Alleyn, Marlowe and Jonson were all men of considerable talent and versatility; all would have baulked at the suggestion that they were simply a writer, or actor, or poet, or entrepreneur. In this year’s Middle School House Drama, the Dulwich College boys proved themselves similarly versatile. We watched in awe as boys adapted and acted, directed and starred, wrote and designed; it was an evening in which the theatre-maker triumphed and Dulwich Drama proved itself to be in excellent health. Mitchell Simmonds directed and starred in a truly original rendering of The Pillowman – winning himself the Best Director Award and Howard the Best Play Award in the process. With a spare stage and minimal props, the ensemble brought the play to grim life using just their carefully choreographed movements and animated delivery. Isaac Gleave also shone in this brilliant ensemble piece. For Jonson, Jamie Spillet acted in and adapted a memorable version of Dracula for which he was given the award for best adaptation. Using mask work and a chilling

Using mask work and a chilling lighting design, Bram Stoker’s classic was expertly realised for us, leaving out none of the gore of the original text

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