Shakespeare’S Comedy Classic Goes Down A Treat!

The senior production this year was Shakespeare’s comic classic, Twelfth Night. Set in the Art Deco world of the 1930’s, a double cast gave four fantastic performances of the two and a half-hour Show last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The result was a raucous, jazzed up version of the play with original music composed by School Organist, and Piano teacher, Stephen Power. The show included stand out performances from Luke Henderson and Daniel Gray as Malvolio, Freya Felgate as Olivia and a wonderfully exuberant performance from Cai Williams as ‘Feste’ the clown. Each student in the cast performed with a great energy and dedication to convey one of Shakespeare’s wordiest texts and many evenings of hard work, rehearsal and line learning paid off.

Director, and Head of Creative Arts Faculty, John Johnson was delighted with the final production, commenting on the dedication that was required; “This play is not easy and demands great attention to comic timing, well thought out characterisation and understanding the text. Each and every member of the final cast, whether on stage or helping out behind the scenes gave everything to make the show work. I am immensely proud of their efforts to deliver the wonderful text with the meaning and emotions required to make this old language make sense to a modern audience. The result had audience members of all ages laughing at what are essentially Elizabethan jokes! The performance was enhanced by a lively swing band that was made up of professional musicians and student instrumentalists who gained hugely from the experience to work with professionals on new and original music.”

This year’s Senior Production therefore offered something different to last years’ performance of Les Miserables which allowed other students to take the limelight. Plans are already underway for the Senior Production in 2015 and there are an eager collection of students who can’t wait to get back on to the Christ College stage!