Cranford Review 2015

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The Performing Arts Department’s summer production this year, “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” was performed as a traverse piece to a sold out audience. The original play by Bertolt Brecht is a play within a play and one that comments on the politics and what was going on in society in 1944, in the lead up to the World War II: the divide between rich and poor and the issue of corruption and lawlessness. Our version was set in contemporary India, against the backdrop of the fast growing economy where the rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer. Wanting to stay true to the original play we workshopped around the themes and then looked at the original text and then changed names and locations. This process was really useful because not only did I want the students to be performers working towards a production, but I wanted them to engage in depth with the themes that the play raises, so that they can think about them and act critically. The cast began rehearsing in March <strong>2015</strong> during WFactor and after school on Fridays and some weekends in the lead up to the performance. Students started the process with improvising around the text, where they were given scenarios based on the original text. This proved to be a challenge, especially learning the lines. Three weeks before the performance dates we had a full run through reading the play, which we had not done before and discovered it was running at 4 hours and no audience was going to sit through a school play that was this long so we edited more and more until we got the running time to 2 hours. The first part of the production was filmed by professionals and starred our staff, Mr Ali, Mrs Bahra and Mr Ladva, all of whom did a sterling job. We also took on the expertise of a professional lighting and sound technician, because I wanted the students to have an experience of working with professionals. The credit for the design and making of the floor cloth goes to two year 7 girls Gursharen Pannu and Arsida Dukaj, who worked tirelessly to ensure that it was ready in time, seeking the help of others when the pressure was on. During the production week, when we got into the performance space that’s when it began to feel like everything was all coming together. Lights and sound, singing and acting... the true ensemble worked creatively to produce a stunning show, one which the students will not forget in a hurry and neither will I. The message in Brecht’s original play is about giving to those who are worthy and the message I wanted to strongly portray was how much we need to preserve the arts within schools, communities, society so that we are humanised. Productions always bring out the best in people, and the entire school community galvanised in ensuring that the show went on, especially those friends and colleagues who gave of their time at weekends and after school to make it a success. Post-show feelings are always emotional, but the cast and technical crew have created a group chat family... the chalk circle, and long may it live. 42 Seema Sethi (Head of Performing Arts)
“It’s really hard to describe how I felt when I saw my name on the board for the selected actors and singers. The feeling is overwhelming as you know that taking part in a production at <strong>Cranford</strong> is going to be amazing because the standard of drama is phenomenal. I’m so grateful to have taken part in such a meaningful play and as Ms Sethi said at the end of the three tiring days “the arts are what humanises us” and only now have I realised how deep those six words are; (Also my last lines in the play were “and the land to the villagers so that we are humanised”). At the start of the play, I didn’t know 90% of the people and now I can proudly say that I know everyone. Now it is finished I miss the late night rehearsals, endless learning of lines and giving it your all. I can’t thank Ms Sethi enough for allowing me to be a part of this, and everyone who put so much hard work into it This is one I definitely will not forget.” Tatyana Baiden (year 10) “I’ve just got in from watching “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”. Please could you pass my congratulations on to the pupils, they were wonderful. Also pass my thanks on to the staff for their inspiration and hard work. Really enjoyed the performance”. Jenny Lewis (School Governor) 43
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