Year 5 and 6 pull off phenomenal performance

Magic, Love and Comedy is at the very heart of King’s Hawford’s production of The Tempest: a musical version of Shakespeare’s great play adapted by Nick Perrin (and Mrs Hughes!).

Last week saw the culmination of five weeks of rehearsals, as Years Five and Six took to the stage with their spectacular production. From the moment the cast learnt of their parts in the show and the staging had been discussed, we knew our production of The Tempest was going to be something special. The aim was to immerse the audience in an enchanting and enchanted world, brought to life by an incredible Year Six team, supported by Year Five. Every child had the chance to combine their acting, musical, dance, artistic and technical skills. The cast had worked extremely hard getting to grips with the storyline and practising how to portray characters, all within six weeks.

The modern retelling of Shakespeare’s famous play began with Year Fives dancing up a storm, using swirling ribbons, drifting scarves and huge billowing sheets to create waves and whip up the tempest against suitably rousing music from Mussorgsky’s Night on Bare Mountain. The Year Sixes followed on until the whole cast were assembled to perform the first song, I am the Wind (by Lin Marsh) in beautiful two-part harmony. The dramatic opening numbers were sung with tremendous intensity, really setting the atmosphere of the storm. A shipwrecked royal party and crew were washed up on an island inhabited by the magician Prospero, commandingly played by Khaleefah GF, his helpful sprite Ariel, (gracefully played by Erin L and Georgia P), and the grotesque island monster Caliban, played in a suitably disturbing manner by Edith D. A flashback in time showed how the spiteful witch Sycorax (Arya P) had kept Ariel trapped in a tree for many years.

Entertaining scenes followed, with Ariel carrying out Prospero’s magic to help him seek revenge on those who had wronged him 12 years earlier. As the hapless King (Issie F) searched the island with his friend Gonzalo (Huddy M), two others, Antonio and Sebastian (played by Max M and Johnnie T), plotted against him in an attempt to become king of the island. Meanwhile, the King’s Butler Stephano (Freddie M) and Jester Trinculo (Ollie B) had rescued the King’s sherry, and were very much enjoying this on another part of the island.

Prospero’s daughter Miranda, (sweetly played by Harriette T) met the first man she had ever seen apart from her father, the King’s son, Ferdinand (Barnaby B), and he fell in love the moment he set eyes upon her. Their interaction was beautifully acted, with Barnaby’s hugely romantic characterisation proving very entertaining.

Other island inhabitants, a fantastic team of Hobgoblins (Max, D, Jack, M, Freddie, P, Sartaaj G and Ollie S) and Ariel’s wonderfully spirited Sprites (Rose G, Blythe T, Poppy C, Isla HM and Arya P), helped the play along with humorous interjections and insights, as Shakespeare (ably played by Michelle Z) popped up mid-story to tie the plot together.

There were so many wonderful moments, and credit is due to every actor and dancer in the production. The Year Fives shone in the sailors’ mug dance (5SH) and hobgoblin dance (5AK), under the expert choreography of Miss Lusted, and their superb singing supported the Year Six cast brilliantly. The singing was a triumph, with notably excellent solo performances from Khaleefah, Edith, Barnaby, Harriette, Erin, Georgia, Johnnie and Max M, and the drunken hilarity and comic timing of Ollie B with Edith and Freddie M ensured the audience were fully entertained. All the children impressed with their characterised movement, remaining in character whilst on stage.

The sound effects, lighting and music added real depth to the production, as did the lavish costumes and make-up. The period attires of the royal party (featuring some very impressive make-up moustaches and beards), the delicate, flowing green and gold costumes with intricate make-up of the Ariel and the Sprites, and the visually eye-catching Caliban costume made the whole production a visual delight.

The children had a huge number of lines and stage positions to learn, in addition to the 12 songs and their class dances. Numerous children were out of their comfort zone, showing bravery and resilience in their performances on stage. The teachers all agree that the Year Six cast worked brilliantly together, and their collaboration and support for one another made the intense rehearsal period great fun, bonding this tight-knit year group further.

With quarrelling royals at the forefront of the story, it is as pertinent now as when it was written in 1611. Watching the cast breathe life into a script and scores written centuries ago is a tremendous feat, adding in our own King’s Hawford interpretation. It has been amazing to see the confidence of the performers increase over the six weeks of rehearsing; new friendships have developed and acting skills have been refined.

The expert casting and vision of Mrs Hughes and Mrs Beech ensured the production was a success and helped each child realise their potential. They are already looking ahead excitedly to next summer’s production, and extend their thanks to every member of staff for their help behind the scenes.