Directing the Dell Play …………………………...…………...…………………………..…Page

CREATIVE ARTS Directing the Dell Play

Every summer term, the Year 12s put on a play in the Dell, the school’s outdoor theatre. This year, and for the first time, both directors are pupils! Frankie Dussek and Murray Smith were interviewed and appointed by Mr Russell for this position. As a member of the cast myself, I wanted to find out what Frankie and Murray really thought about directing! Murray: Do you feel that the Drama Department is providing you with enough support?

I think they want us to try and lead the rest of our year group. They don’t want to intervene with it. They’ll come in for rehearsals sometimes; they’ll sit in for the start as they don’t need to be there for all of it, just to make sure everyone is settled. It can be quite difficult when dealing with your own year group.

Frankie:

Was there a different approach to drama in the American high school that you used to go to compared with how it is here? Why should pupils watch the Dell Play?

Everyone in the group of people has their own little edge over one another. So you’ve got Gabe and Ben, who are certainly not afraid to pull off the scenes that they perform... And then you’ve got yourself (Polly) and Zain who would happily sit in character for the whole rehearsal. And that’s what we want. It goes the same for the rest of the cast.

The play is a comedy by Michael Frayn called ‘The Audience’. Our three performances will all take place during the last week of the school year. The cast involves three members of Year 11 in addition to the Year 12s.

It’s much more professional here. At my high school in America I mainly worked backstage crew. But no one took it very seriously! We also never had the opportunity to direct. A lot more people are involved here.

Cast List:

Keith – Benjamin Young Eileen – Millie Cranston Reginald – Alexander Cardoza Helena – Tess Garrett

Any surprises so far?

I knew we were going to be involved with everything: costume, set, lighting, the actual performance, but it’s still really cool to be doing all of that!

Stage Management:

Lighting – Bertie Brushfield Costume – Megan Richardson and Sassy Garrad Set – Georgia Hutcheon Joan – Imogen Symonds Charles – Herbie Sleep Amanda – Amelia Baldock Merrill – Zizie Ndlovu Bobby – Orla Boulder Quentin – Polly Symes Lee – Zain Radwan Usherette – Gabriel Barlow