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THE ALLEYNIAN 710
Two devised pieces inspired by the work of Emma Rice had the audience on the edge of their seats, says Kathryn Norton-Smith Year 12 devised original drama A-LEVEL DRAMA & THEATRE
drawing inspiration from the 1995 adventure comedy directed by Joe Johnston, thrillingly conjuring a playful yet provocative piece as we were transported, along with the characters, into the chaotic wonder of Jumanji . The timeless quality of the story was echoed by the varied time periods the piece was set in, from a Victorian graveyard and a 1950s toy factory to a 1990s attic. The ensemble, directed by Edmund Irving, steered us through this journey with a well-chosen eclectic soundtrack ranging from Eric Coates’ ‘Calling All Workers’ from the BBC Sound Archive to the 1990s anthem ‘Jump Around’. They made us laugh, but also managed to unsettle us with their eerie creation of the mysterious jungle world. There were snapping crocodiles; there was brilliant puppetry created with shredded umbrellas evocative of the hunger birds in the recent production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane ; there were suspended ropes suggesting
Emma Rice’s distinctive style of playful, irreverent and wonder- filled ensemble storytelling fuelled two magical and diverse creative adaptations presented by Year 12 Drama & Theatre Studies students as part of the A-level course. Sparked by a visit to Rice’s recent production of Wuthering Heights at the National Theatre, both casts latched on to her framing device of the Chorus of the Moors, an ingenious embodiment of the Yorkshire landscape which brings Bronte’s brooding Gothic novel to life. Jumanji was a thrilling adventure-fantasy tale of chance and transformation, a magical narrative, where the impossible happens and imagination runs rampant. Jumanji also has at its heart a moral message on fatherhood, forgiveness, kindness and the consequences of our actions. The company breathed new life into Chris Van Allsburg’s 1981 children’s book, whilst
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