Gothic horror visits QE

Actor Rupert Mason gave boys a taste of Gothic horror when he performed to the whole of Year 9 in the School Hall.

In a visit arranged by the English department, the actor presented Tales of Gothic Horror: a dramatic performance of The Red Room by HG Wells and The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe.

Head of English Susannah Sweetman, who organised the visit, said: “The performance was arranged to complement Year 9’s study of Gothic short stories in preparation for their GCSE unit in Year 10, where they will study another Gothic story: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

“The boys found the performance both entertaining and a beneficial addition to their class study of Gothic tales. I was impressed by the thought-provoking questions that the boys asked Rupert Mason after the performance, demonstrating that they were captivated by the atmospheric production and the intriguing nature of the Gothic genre.”