Friday Headlines
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Macbeth Brought to Life
10 November 2023
Pupils in the Senior School enjoyed their second visit from the wonderfully talented team of professional actors 'The Three Inch Fools'. They performed the entirety of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' in the morning session before break, with the four main actors performing multiple roles, using various costumes, musical instruments (including a hurdy-gurdy'!) and props, which was all very exciting. Then, students split up into four break-out rooms around the school between break and lunch, so as to hothouse ideas, prepare soundscapes, conduct role-plays, rehearse stage movements and get ready for their afternoon performances.
The afternoon session saw students perform four identical scenes from 'Macbeth' but in radically original, inventive and personal ways. The 'Three Inch Fools' actors - Al, Ellen, Lucinda and Ben were 'blown away' by the creativity, talent and energy of our Year 7 students. To end the day's proceedings, James (the show's producer) led a panel-discussion in which students commented on each other's performances and were then able to ask a large number of spontaneous and thought-provoking questions, such as 'How does it feel to act with someone you don't like?', 'Do you get scared before performing?', 'What if you want to laugh at something funny while mid-performance on stage?', 'Is it awkward to do a 'stage-kiss'?' etc.
'The Three Inch Fools' gave great insight and helpful advice for budding writers, performers and creative practitioners among our very own Year 7s. They also answered many questions in the more informal, rest-break moments throughout the day; we are sure that Year 7s subsequent studies in 'Macbeth' have been enriched as a result. The level of maturity and concentration required by students was a credit to them and will hopefully lead to great things.
Mr Gray, Head of English
Three Inch Fools
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