Working up a storm: visit helps pupils prepare for The Tempest

With rehearsals now well under way for this year’s QE production at the national Shakespeare Schools Theatre Festival, senior actors received a little professional help with their preparations at a special workshop.

The Coram Shakespeare Schools company came to the School to put senior drama club members through their paces ahead of their performance of The Tempest at the Artsdepot theatre in North Finchley next month.

QE Flourish co-ordinator Brooke Farron said: “Excitement is rising here as the time for the performance approaches, so it was great to see the actors learning some useful tips and techniques to help them finesse their performance.”

The workshop included:

• Planning a rehearsal process
• Rehearsing, reflecting and refining work the boys had already done
• Guidance on taking scripts from page to stage
• Applying techniques and exercises to create and communicate meaning and intention as a performer
• Using Shakespearean duologues and monologues to explore textual analysis, physical and vocal interpretation, character relationships and proxemics (the study of the human use of space).

The Tempest is one of Shakespeare’s later plays; it is thought to have been written in 1610–1611. Set mostly on a remote island, it covers themes including power, magic, revenge, betrayal, imprisonment, freedom, forgiveness, and family.

The play features several phrases that have become common English sayings or are frequently quoted, such as: “brave new world”; “fair play”; “melted into air, into thin air”; “our revels now are ended”; and “we are such stuff as dreams are made on”.

The School’s production is being directed by Penny Gkritzapi, from the School’s long-term drama partners, Rough Magicke (RM) Drama. RM Drama’s name itself comes from The Tempest: in Act 5, Scene 1, the play’s main character, Prospero, says (with the original spelling):

“Graues at my command
Haue wak’d their sleepers, op’d, and let ’em forth
By my so potent Art. But this rough Magicke
I heere abiure…”

QE is one of four secondary schools performing abridged Shakespeare Plays at the Artsdepot for the festival. The festival is run by the workshop organisers, Coram Shakespeare Schools, a cultural education charity.

Miss Farron invited parents and other supporters of the School to come along and support the QE actors. The production takes place at 7pm on Tuesday 10th November

Tickets may be booked here.