BODENS 2018 AUTUMN MAGAZINE

BODENS PERFORMING ARTS
THE PLACE FOR PERFORMING ARTS
AD 61, Britannia. On the furthest
On the 17th and 18th of July, the
outreaches of the Roman Empire –
Thursday advanced performing
at the very edge of the known world
arts class staged Boudica, the
– rebellion is brewing.
story of the queen of the British
Iceni tribe who led an uprising
The King of the Iceni has died and his
against the occupying forces
widow, Boudica, has tried to claim
of the Roman Empire. Before
her rightful throne. For her insolence
starting the process, we got
in defying Rome, the queen has
given an extract from three
been flogged, her daughters have
plays, including Boudica, and by
been raped, and they have been
the end of two weeks working
banished from their homeland. But
on them it was a unanimous
now, Queen Boudica has returned.
decision that we all preferred
And this time she has an army.
this play.
Originally being set in 60
She will have revenge. She will have
AD, we decided to set it
blood. She will make Rome quake in
in a futuristic, dystopian
fear.
world where all the events
that happen would also be
Young people from out Thursday
‘justified’ and seem normal.
Advanced Performing Arts Course
The very talented Eleanor
performed Boudica at the end of
Grant assumed the role of the
their Summer Term. For many, it was
great queen, and worked on
their last of so many performances,
her long speeches to speak
All of the cast got to work
before saying goodbye to Bodens as
eloquently and powerfully.
with Ronan the fight
a student, and heading to University.
Olivia Lawrence and Zoe
coordinator who allowed
Jones played the role of
the play to come together
BOUDICA
Blodwynn, the oldest feisty
yet vulnerable princess,
and I was joined by Sophia
as a whole with the artfully
choreographed large fights.
I’m sure I speak for every
A brand-new ancient-history play in verse that tells the story
of one of Britain’s most iconic women: a queen, a warrior.
We immediately starting
working on the crucial scenes
Chrysanthou from Friday
classes playing Alonna, the
sister of Blodwynn who
defies the norm and sues
for peace.
cast member when I say we
had so much fun working
on this experience that I’m
sure none of us will forget -
by Annie Reed
in the play so we all got to
grasp the intentions of the
characters. Subtext was a huge
part of finding out the meaning
of the play, and therefore being
able to break it down and truly
understanding it for the purpose
of the audience. We found this
to be centrally about feminism
and the toxicity of males’ power
complex.
AUTUMN 2018
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