Private School News

Derbyshire pupils’ fresh take on 400-year-old play

Pupils at a Derbyshire school ensured a memorable night of theatre by putting their own innovative spin on a 400-year-old classic.

A range of pupils aged between 12 and 18 at Mount St Mary’s College produced and performed the Shakespearean favourite ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with an inventive punk rock inspired twist.

The play, a comedy which portrays the adventures of different characters in a fairy-inhabited moonlit forest, is one of Shakespeare’s best-loved productions and combines romantic trysts with occasional high-jinks.

But the adaptation used cultural aspects from the 1980s to turn the fairies into punks, the Athenians into New Romantics and the mechanicals as part of the Northern Soul scene, giving watching parents a walk down memory lane.

Thirty pupils took responsibility for all aspects of the performance, including production, costumes and make-up, lighting and sound, and of course acting, provided by members of the Senior Drama Society.

Pupil Richard Duggan played Bottom – his final role after seven years of impressive performances at the Mount.

Jack Murphy, head of English and Drama at Mount St Mary’s College, said: “This was an ambitious project in a busy term but the pupils have exceeded expectations. Everyone has put a lot of work into this adaptation and they produced a wonderful performance in front of a packed audience.

“Of course the play was not just about our superb thespians, the costumes, make-up and lighting gave the production a distinct visual style and created a fantastic atmosphere.

“It’s always great when pupils are given the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and it is very rewarding to see the combined efforts of pupils from across the school culminate in such a fantastic show.”

Photo: Tatania falling in love with Bottom