11 / 20
DRAMA 11
Hamlet
- Middle
School Production
An exceptionally
talented group of L4 and
U4 students treated us
to a fantastic production
of Shakespeare’s
Hamlet
. This was the
first Middle School
Production at Bancroft’s
for several years. It was
led by a tour-de-force
performance by Martha
Grimsell, as Hamlet,
supported by an able
cast who gave us
mature and considered
performances. Centred
around the forbidden
relationship between
Hamlet and Ophelia
(played passionately
and intelligently
by Pasha Parmar)
this production was
innovative and modern
making good use of an
industrial soundtrack,
featuring the likes of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails,
as well as live music. The stripped back production
ran for a mere ninety minutes but lost none of
Shakespeare’s drama and intensity.
Standout performances included Emily Christaki’s fierce
interpretation of Gertrude, Gauri Godbole`s comic turn as a bumbling
gossip Polonius, and Theo Life’s guilt-ridden East-End gangster
Claudius. Highlights included a ferocious fencing match between
Hamlet and Laertes (played by Benedict Hughes), which had been
arranged by L6 pupil Hasha Dar and an ensemble physical theatre
piece, created in collaboration with Frantic Assembly Theatre
Company, as a replacement for The Mousetrap. Special mention
must go to Hamlet herself, Martha, whose faultless, deeply moving,
and highly original interpretation of this complex and challenging
character will be remembered at Bancroft’s for many years to come.
This was an ambitious and daring interpretation of what many
consider to be not only Shakespeare’s finest work but also the finest
play written. Many congratulations to cast, crew and Mr Sugarman,
the Director, for giving us a superb, thought provoking production.
The Winter’s Tale
–
Senior Production
Our Senior
production
this year was
The Winter’s
Tale
, possibly
best known for
containing the
most infamous
stage direction
in Shakespeare’s works, “Exit pursued by a bear”, but
Miss Gartland’s production was so much more, giving
a modern twist to this classic tale of love and loss in a
world in which miracles can, and do, happen.
Miss Gartland had assembled a talented cast of Sixth, Fifth and Upper
Formers and drew out some admirable performances. Suzi Bramwell
gave a beautifully nuanced performance as Hermoine, encapsulating
all facets of her character: devoted mother, gracious queen, wronged
wife. It is difficult to feel much sympathy for her husband King Leontes;
in the first half of the play Tom Dean showed him as alternating
between callous tyrant and spoilt brat; however, when reunited with
his wife and daughter he brought a sense of wonder and tenderness
to the role. Emilia Hitching was businesslike and practical as Paulina,
calmly manipulating events, and, together with Camillo (Jake Botha),
orchestrating the denouement. There were charming cameos from
Removes, Josie Grimsell and Zaki Lodhi, who alternated the role of
Hermione’s and Leontes’ ill-fated son, Mamillius.
The contrast between the warmth of Bohemia and the wintery coldness
of Sicilia was drawn out by Malini Sachdeva-Masson as Perdita, who
was paired charmingly with Luis Black’s Florizel. The latter’s youthful
idealism was, in turn, set against the cold conservatism of his father
Polixenes (Jeremy Haward-Grau). The comic characters are not always
well served in
The Winter’s Tale
but Louis Japaul (the con artist
Autolycus), together with Daniel Lockely and Harry Lorrell worked hard,
displaying much energy in their roles.
Although individual
performances were
strong throughout,
Bancroft’s
productions are
always notable for
the strength of their
ensemble work.
Congratulations
must go to all the
cast as well as
the ever efficient
backstage crew. It
was clear that a great
deal of hard work had
gone into this first class production.
As for that famous bear, it would be safe that the way in which
Antigonus met his death brought a novel interpretation to the moment,
but in the context, of this production made perfect sense!