Twelfth Night – Form 3’s Summer Production
Concord’s annual Form 3 production is always a collaborative and colourful endeavour, bringing together the talents of the Drama, Art & Music departments. This year they performed William Shakespeare’s play ‘Twelfth Night’ across two spell-binding performances in the outdoor amphitheatre by the West End building. The sun was shining all day, making both the 1pm final dress rehearsal and the 7pm show for parents even more of a joy to watch.
Whilst sticking to the original storyline, students enthusiastically contributed ideas for characterisation and choreography including disco dancing, sword fights and musical arrangements inspired by the chosen theme of 1970s. The students’ team spirit and creativity were evident in every aspect of the production including the imaginative set design which was imagined and created during lessons in the art department. The performance space was adorned with colourful hearts symbolising gardens, shipwrecks and love letters which provided dynamic entrances and exits. The retro costumes added to this and captured the characters’ flamboyance perfectly.
Understanding Shakespeare’s language can be a significant challenge, especially considering that English isn’t the first language of many of the students involved. The support of the English department was instrumental in helping students interpret and engage with the text. Their guidance really helped students enhance their performances.
A particularly heart-warming and community-spirited aspect of this year’s production was our Form 4 GCSE Drama students leading a mask-making workshop for visiting pupils from local primary schools Church Preen, Longnor & Cressage. They then had the opportunity to watch and laugh along to the final dress rehearsal afterwards.
The performance was directed by Drama, LAMDA and Extra-Curricular Support Teacher Mrs Sarah Hickman and marked her first directorial experience at Concord College, one that she found truly rewarding:
“While the process was intensive and demanding, the creativity and commitment of both staff and students made it an immensely fulfilling experience.
The production was a resounding success. This achievement is a testament to the students’ dedication, enthusiasm, and resilience. From the outset, the teaching team introduced Shakespeare’s rich narrative, exploring the themes and characters of Twelfth Night. We collectively decided to set the play in the 1970s—a decade that complemented the play’s central theme of love with its vibrant aesthetic and musical flair.
The show was a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and commitment. It was a joy to witness the students’ growth and to see their hard work culminate in such a vibrant and memorable performance.”
