Recorder Summer 2018 Newsletter ??????? 20??
Playwright’s praise for students’ performance STUDENTS trod the boards graced by history’s greatest actors and won heartfelt acclaim from an award-winning playwright. Chino Odimba said she was “changed” after watching a 26-strong cast of Year 8 and 9 pupils perform her play “The Sweetness of a Sting” at the National Theatre. The budding actors won their place on the famous stage after wowing audiences at the Stratford Theatre in May, as part of the National Theatre’s Connections festival. Haggerston was one of just 10 schools, and the only non-sixth form, out of 280 to make it through to the grand showcase at the South
Bank theatre. “The Sweetness of a Sting” tells the story of Badger, who runs away from his parents after they decide to return to their home country. After watching Haggerston’s adaptation, playwright Chino tweeted: “Still one of the most joyous experiences I’ve had in theatre. “NT Connections gave me the gift of writing a thing and tonight I watched a group of mainly Year 8s from Haggerston School take that play on in the most beautiful and loving way. “Don’t tell me theatre doesn’t change lives. I am changed.” Year 9 Dorcas Adelaja, who played Queen
Bee in the play, said: “I was so nervous but I knew had to get it right, so much effort had gone in. “We had rehearsed for months and really put our heart and soul into the performance and I think that showed. “Even though we were the youngest cast to make it to the final, we were certainly not out of place and many thought ours was the best performance.” Fellow performer Kate Elliott said: “There are huge actors, well-known faces, who have never performed at the National Theatre and there we were, still teenagers, doing it.”
Consultation leads to school library revamp OUR students will return from their summer break to find a new-looking library. A series of regeneration works will be carried out over the six-week holiday, which will include an increase in computer access for pupils. The library layout will be refreshed with
modernised shelving, more comfortable seating and a major upgrade to presentation facilities. The revamp comes after a consultation with the students, who were asked what improvements they would like to see made. Librarian Dr Parris, said: “Much
like Doctor Who, when we return in the autumn, the library will have a completely new face. “These exciting developments have been drawn up in response to student consultation over the past few months, so we expect all year groups will be looking forward to the improvements.”