THE SCOTTISH PLAY
Year 6 took to the stage at The Merlin Theatre, Frome to perform their thrilling interpretation of The Scottish Play as part of the 2018 Shakespeare Schools Festival.
Unusually, the lights rose not on three weird sisters, but three young girls in pyjamas (Skyla Mercer, Janey Godfrey-Faussett and Tina Lin) reluctantly settling down to sleep at the end of a disappointing sleepover. Inspired by their English lessons they decided to liven things up by reenacting the famous Witches scene from Macbeth. True to its sinister and superstitious reputation they found themselves not in Skyla’s bedroom but transported back to Medieval Scotland where King Duncan (Bruno Clark) and his army were fighting the Norwegians and some Scottish rebels.
The haunting tone was set by the crazed cackles and chants of three withered old hags (Bronwen Rogers, Phoebe Symmonds and Katherine Mangiarcina) who planted the seed of ambition in a bewildered Macbeth (Rebecca Shepherd). It soon became clear that the charismatic and cunning Lady Macbeth (Amelie Mortimer) would stop at nothing until her husband was crowned King. As the Macbeths became embroiled in their duplicitous deeds much blood was shed. The cracks began to show as Macbeth’s descent into madness raised suspicion in the noble Macduff (John Fell). With the support of the former King’s son Malcolm (Freddie Mines) and the English army, order was restored and the rightful King crowned.
The use of physical theatre and soundscapes was effective in creating the atmospheric heath. The transitions were seamless and greatly enhanced by the engaging storytelling of the three young girls. The shifting relationships between the characters was convincing and the melodrama of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s deteriorating psychological states were equally powerful.
We are hugely proud of our talented Year 6 children and delighted that every one of them can say they have performed Shakespeare on a professional stage. The level of teamwork and dedication needed to pull off such an overtly professional production was evident. Their confidence and self-assurance was remarkable and the experience of performing as part of The Shakespeare Schools Festival is one that they will never forget.
We look forward to performing alongside senior pupils to a full house at the Athenaeum in a Double Bill of Madness next week.
Rebecca Glenny