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On Friday 15th November, Post 16 English and Drama students and a group of 50 year 10s and 11s, chosen for their enthusiasm and hard work in English and Drama, had the exciting opportunity to watch a live broadcast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s sold out production of Shakespeare’s ‘Richard II’. A play one student referred to as “something I had been desperate to see”, the production was part of the RSC’s Young Shakespeare Nation program, encouraging young people to appreciate the bard’s impressive portfolio. The play was shown in two locations around the Academy, the Drama Studio and the newly kitted out Compass, both of which were packed out with students waiting to see how David Tennant would portray one of our most controversial of kings. The play tells the story of King Richard II, the son of Edward, the notorious Black Prince, who had brought havoc to France. Charting the events of the last two years of Richard’s life, Shakespeare recounts the story of the usurping of the king at the hands of the “ruthless” and “manipulative” Bolingbroke, the cousin who would become Henry IV. Through his eloquent speeches and enchanting language, Shakespeare questions the ideas of power, patriotism and the divine rights of kings, thrilling his audience with the dramatic plots and twists which resulted in an ending that drew gasps of shock from staff and students alike. David Tennant’s Richard was described as “excellent”, “mind blowing” and “better than Doctor Who!” by students, who were impressed not only by his “epic wig”, but also by his portrayal of the complicated character. Post 16 students also had the opportunity to submit questions to and watch a live Q&A session after the play with David Tennant and Gregory Dorran, the director. This was “a great experience as we got to hear about how the play was put together and the decisions actors make in performance. Helpful for my coursework.” This unique experience is something that the English and Drama department intend to repeat in 2014, when Henry IV Part 1 will take to the stage and screen, allowing more students to take part in such exciting and literary events.
Miss Kate Brackley |
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