THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Ways Lower School House Drama
with
It became evident early on that extremely high standards were expected of the boys: every performance was instilled with a real self-discipline
words
DRAMA
Imagination and commitment were the keynotes of this year’s event, say Peter Jolly and Lucy Mackenzie
P oetry was the inspiration for an evening of verbal and visual treats, with each House adapting a poem for the stage, using skills learned in dance and drama classes. It became evident early on that extremely high standards were expected of the boys: every performance was instilled with a real self-discipline, as well as a desire to be inclusive and inventive, without over reliance on props or stage furniture. This economy gave rise to a real focus on ensemble playing, and the super choreographic work in the pieces was notable. Casts were large, well-rehearsed and enthusiastic. Our guest adjudicator, drama and dance teacher and practitioner Katie Lowe, provided the boys with insightful advice about engaging the audience and ensuring dramatic intentions are really clear. She commented: ‘I was blown away by the performance quality of each piece. The innovative storytelling through the use of movement, music, puppetry, props, text and comedy was wonderful! Each piece was highly engaging in its own way. I loved the relationship the boys built up with the audience from the word go, and how they maintained the energy throughout each performance. My eye is always drawn to those who have the “supporting roles” – every role was strong and played with such conviction.’
It is perhaps no surprise that the beautiful movement work in Grenville’s The Way Through The Woods caught the eye of our adjudicator, well versed in dance. Seth Davidson Petch and Luke Meyohas created a beautiful piece of drama that evoked the atmosphere with real originality. The visual elements of Jonson’s The Ancient Mariner captured the imagination of the audience as the cast moved seamlessly from scenes of storms to those of ice – with the help of a parachute. Whilst those productions might have been singled out, there was not one play that fell below the highest standard. Liam El Asmar produced an excellent performance and gained the Best Actor Cup for Drake. Raleigh’s Jack and the Beanstalk was an ambitious piece of work using puppetry and movement to create a fabulous plant. Director Calum Skinner was pushing directorial boundaries well beyond the expectations we have for a Lower School boy and was awarded the Best Director Cup for the care and imagination he put into the creation of the play. The award of the Adjudicator’s Cup to Ola Meldad showed how talent is spread throughout the current Lower School; he produced a convincing performance from the smallest of supporting roles and instantly conveyed poise and assurance to the audience. The competition was one to relish and proved a real highlight in a term that was cut short soon after this wonderful event.
70
71
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker