6
The School Today
Amazing Achievements
Fiddler on the Roof Following their sell-out production of Les Misérables in 2016, the senior pupils of the School presented their latest production, Fiddler on the Roof, in June 2018. A sell-out yet again over five performances, the show was a stunning achievement by our cast and crew of incredibly talented pupils. Fiddler on the Roof is set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905. The story centres on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions during a time of political and social change. He must cope with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters, who wish to marry for love, with each one’s choice of husband moving further away from the customs of his faith. Throughout the production, Tevye talks to God and directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall. In these monologues, Tevye ponders tradition, the difficulties of being poor, the Jewish community's constant fear of harassment from their non-Jewish neighbours, and important family decisions. With the threat of displacement and forced migration being ever present, Fiddler on the Roof has a contemporary and poignant relevancy which should resonate with audiences. Musical numbers such as ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, ‘Tradition’, ‘Matchmaker’ and ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ remind us why this is such an enduring and iconic musical.
The musical highlighted how amazing projects like this are for bringing people together. With over 100 cast and crew including pupils and teachers, the audience was presented with some memorable moments in what was overall a slick and polished production. Drama, Art and Music all played significant parts in putting together the spectacle, with an orchestra comprising pupils and teachers, and a fantastic set created by the artists of the School. The production gained 5 star reviews from those who attended the show. Some of the many reviews are shown below: Iain Bett: ‘Another wonderful production they get better and better. Please pass on my congratulations and thanks to all concerned.’ Maggie Anderson: ‘I have just seen the most amazing performance of Fiddler on the Roof… to all involved in this superb production, especially Ruaridh Cowieson playing “Tevye”, sincere congratulations. Worthy of Broadway!’ The pupils at the High School of Dundee displayed a fantastic range of talents. Lindsay Drummond, Head of Drama, commented ‘there was something for everyone from a spellbinding bottle dance to an energetic Russian folk dance. The story and songs told out so magnificently by the whole ensemble had the audiences captivated from the minute the curtain opened.’
