Shakespeare is a difficult playwright to tackle at any age; reading it from a script is hard enough, but to then translate that into human emotion and action, and show it onstage, can prove even more difficult. This is particularly the case when the actors are in Year 7! However, at the tender age of 11, the Year 7 College cohort donned costumes and wigs and graced the stage to perform one of the Bard’s most famous plays. Ignoring any superstitions, the pupils stormed the stage claiming ‘all hail Macbeth!’, to the wonder of the packed Tithe Barn.
The three witches opened the play, stirring a giant cauldron amongst a lantern-strewn stage. The banquet table was ready and waiting, and the scene was instantly recognisable as Macbeth. The thespians had done astonishingly well, learning the traditional script and Shakespearean language. The level of understanding was also impressive; the troupe had clearly spent time breaking down the lines and understanding the emotion and motivation behind each character, and this reflected well in their emphatic performances. However, this was Shakespeare with a twist. Rather than knickerbockers or yellow stockings (think Malvolio in Twelfth Night), the Year 7 actors had brought the 400 year-old play into the twenty-first century, and decided on Star Wars themed costumes!
The group had split the play into two acts, with a different cast for each act. This not only relieved some of the pressure of learning many lines, but also meant that everyone had the opportunity to be involved. In an intensely dark play, there were a few comedic moments; whether these were intentional or otherwise, the audience found them endearing and funny, helping to keep them involved in the goings-on before them.
Mrs Sian Pearson, who had spent weeks with the boys learning lines and rehearsing the play, was pleased with the outcome on the night. Commenting on the play, she said that ‘the boys did exceptionally well; it was no mean feat learning all of those lines and understanding them, and I’m really pleased with the class for committing to the play and giving it their all.’
