The Drama Department is thrilled to announce its 2015 Autumn Senior Production; At Break of Day. This year’s play is a hard-hitting World War II drama, centred around the lives of two soldiers making an epic journey home after a long, demanding and life-changing war. As the difficult journey becomes ever more dreamlike, it takes on a nightmarish quality, taking them not just along the road home, but through a whole century and its conflicts. Along the way they quarrel, make up, quote Shakespeare, fight, comfort each other, joke, escape from prison and betray each other. One of them records his thoughts in a notebook.
Interwoven into the story of the soldiers is that of a young woman, who has made her own journey to a distant land, to discover what happened to her great-grandfather. He disappeared, and all she has that remains is a battered notebook, which she searches for clues.
The play presents an absurd universe, where time and place shift alarmingly and which is haunted by echoes of great disasters and great hopes, great poetry and great sorrow.
In order to get into character for the event, an immersive lesson was held in the Tithe Barn. Different year groups were able to see artefacts and uniforms that were actually worn in World War II. Amongst the antique pieces were magazines, maps, hats and letters written home. The artefacts belong to Drama Technician Mrs Nicola Sutherland. As well as providing inspiration for the pupils, Mrs Sutherland will use the pieces to create costumes, sets and props for the upcoming production, hoping to produce a close-to-life atmosphere.
The play will be performed in the Tithe Barn from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 November, at 7.30pm. Tickets will be available here.
