Stopfordian 2010–2011 - Stockport Grammar School

The Stopfordian 2010–2011
contrasted well with the barely-contained fury of her exhusband
and new mother-in-law. Helen is one of the most
enigmatic figures from Greek mythology – enchanting and
bewitching for good and for bad. Jenni captured the
seductive force of Helen extremely well, visibly creating a
reaction in both the other cast members and the audience.
The Chorus were one of the most powerful and evocative
elements of the production, played by Sarah Hindle (who sang
the haunting melody Dance With my Father beautifully), Arran
Mackay, Lorna Nicholson and Angharad Smith. It was through
them that the theme of Nazi Europe was truly equated with the
play, as their odes served as soliloquies. In Euripides’ play they
represent the women of Troy and express the emotion and pain
at the injustices which the women of the play are suffering. In
this production their choral appeals were imaginatively
interpreted by Mr Thorley and each of them narrated a different
account from real victims of the Holocaust. As they spoke,
various images of the camps and people of Nazi Europe were
projected behind them and their final exodus resonated with a
fantastic rendition of Afterglow by Genesis. The effect was
haunting and was clearly relevant to the audience in terms of
what the Trojan women were experiencing.
This play deserves great
acclaim not only for the
challenging and
innovative direction
conjured by Mr Thorley,
but also for the amazing
cast and the fantastic
exhibition which
accompanied the
production. Every year
the Lower Sixth proves to
be full of talented pupils,
and this year the team
worked so hard to
present this challenging
and emotional play in a
sensitive
and
unforgettable way. This
was achieved to such an extent that many tissues had been
shared and tears shed by the final dramatic moment of
Hecuba’s death.
Lauren McAllister (OS 2006)
HOMELESS
On a cold, windy, May
weekend, many eager
Lower School pupils were
ready to get creative. We
were about to take on
a drama challenge – to
create a play from scratch
in just one weekend!
Our aim was to raise
money and awareness
for the homeless charity
The Wellspring based
just down the road
in Stockport.
With the help of Ziona Smith, a brilliant professional actor and
director and Mrs Moffatt, our outstanding teacher, we created
a fantastic play which really looked into the lives of homeless
people. It showed why these people are in need, how they
survived and how homeless charities can help them.
All together an amazing £600 was raised from the two
performances which took place under the main entrance
archway to the school. It was a unique space to put on a play
but with both the actors and audience having to brave the
elements, it allowed us to really empathise with how it must
really be to be homeless.
Overall, the production was a huge success; thank you to all
the teachers, helpers and pupils. Our homeless project, on
and off stage, was a truly inspirational experience.
Faye Holleworth (3S)
70 Music, Drama and Art