Der Sandmann A2 Devised Drama
A cold, dark February evening provided the perfect context for this year’s A2 Devised Drama performance of Der Sandmann , adapted from ETA Hoffman’s short story. The original explores Nathanael’s childhood memory of his father’s death and the traumatic experiences that unfolded thereafter. Upon arriving in the Edward Alleyn Theatre the audience were met with an almost empty stage that induced an eerie feeling of loss and the macabre. When the performance got underway, it was clear that one of the cast’s main intentions was to evoke an unsettled, uncomfortable feeling of empathy and pity towards the protagonist, played inspiringly by Joseph Taylor. The physicality of the acting conveyed beautifully the world around the characters with a minimal use of props, and the direction from Jack Fox Downes was a triumph. Dominic Povall used evocative facial expressions well. The scene where Nathanael witnesses the death of his father, played by Thomas Hammond, sets the chain of events in motion that transform Nathanael’s life, and here the cast used their physicality and movement to convey inanimate objects with convincing ease. An explosion seemed deadly realistic, as did a scene transporting the audience to a Victorian hospital.
As the plot thickened, it was clear how passionate the cast felt about their piece: from the expressionistic nuances of George Chambers to the subtle movement across the stage I felt enthralled, a sensation shared amongst the audience, nervously bound by the fate of Nathanael. Zachary Harvey- Wright balanced his roles as the Sandmann and Copelius with a terrifying humanity, allowing the audience to connect with his character emotionally. Within this short, dark adaptation it was clear to see how passionate the boys were about their performances. The profound connection between the actors and their characters helped to create a surreal world that drifted seamlessly between memories and the present. “As the plot thickened, it was clear how passionate the cast felt about their piece.”
MR ED SWIFT
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