The Junior Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream

The 2020 Junior Play production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a play like no other, and one that I was extremely grateful to be a part of. Despite the uncertainty surrounding us since March, the determination and will to perform this play remained an unwavering constant. From the first rehearsals in February, to the COVID-friendly performance in the Open Air Theatre, everyone involved in the play put in 100% effort. The spirit to succeed was ... positively infectious. During lockdown we managed to rehearse remotely every week during the Summer Term. Although we were unable to rehearse in a conventional manner, we managed to really solidify our lines to memory, work on our facial expressions and overall delivery of our characters. Since returning to school, rehearsals were full on as we were all keen to perform the play as soon as possible. Following strict COVID regulations, everything ran smoothly in the build up to the performances. The Open Air Theatre could not have been a better setting, capturing the essence of this particular Shakespearean play. The weather proved to be a challenging factor, however it supported us in our quest to perform. The two performances reflected all the hard work the cast put into this project. A sense of triumph was definitely felt by all when receiving the applause at the end of each performance. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was truly a success, and an even sweeter victory due to the specific conditions we faced in the journey to make the show happen. 

Poppy S, Fifth Form


Shakespeare in Lockdown... 
When rehearsals began in February and whilst we were all getting to grips with the script and learning the first few scenes, no one could have imagined how quickly things would change. What started out as a normal production soon became a whole new experience with the prospect of any public performance restricted. Mr Smith organised live rehearsals on Teams with the cast spread miles apart; through technology we were still working together. During lockdown we faced new challenges in trying to develop the physical aspects of our characters without the ability to interact with other members of the cast. When we returned to school in September, Mr Smith was determined to bring the play to fruition and, despite a few cast changes, the company resumed rehearsals with vigour. Our performance to a socially distanced audience finally went ahead and all the hard work and commitment paid off; even the October weather didn’t dampen our spirits! The performances were great and the Company shone magnificently, leaving us all proud of our achievements. Overall, this production was a true testament to the phrase ‘the show must go on’!

Theo C, Fifth Form