Foundation Magazine 2021-2022 | Mount Kelly

PERFORMING & CREATIVE ARTS
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
The Studio Production Company made history by performing the first Shakespeare play at the newly refurbished Guildhall in
Tavistock. As one of the earliest examples in the country of a purpose-built combined courtroom and police station, it was
the perfect venue for The Merchant of Venice, and the young cast was superb. Alfred Forer characterised Shylock as both
menacing and vulnerable, whilst Grace Cazzoli and Lily Nordmann presented Portia and Nerissa’s words with passion and humour.
Zak Briggs, Harvey Lucas-Chave, Harry Parr Ferris, Adejola Adekoya, Poppy Taylor, Rowena Hill, Eleanora Webber and Ella Tanner,
all rose to the challenge of capturing the essence of Elizabethan attitudes and concerns in their roles, delivering an unforgettable
performance of Shakespeare’s most controversial play.
BTEC PERFORMING ARTS
THE MIND OF A MAN, SUFFERING IN SILENCE
Upper Sixth BTEC Performing Arts pupils produced a moving and intelligent piece of theatre, called The Mind of a Man,
Suffering in Silence. Emerging from research into social media, the pupils studied the effects of depersonalisation and the
disassociation that it can create, and how differentiating between reality and one’s subconscious narrative can be difficult.
Within a moving story of a man who clearly needs to reach out and speak, the pupils expertly juxtaposed the same scenes
on screen and on stage but from differing perspectives, using both naturalistic and abstract methods of communicating to an
audience. The pupils should be very proud of their performances, which together with their design ideas, created an insightful and
interesting piece.
PERFORMING & CREATIVE ARTS
ELLA TANNER | PRE-PREP PLAY
Ella Tanner performed an exciting piece of Theatre in Education for Prep-Prep, based on the story Mr Gumpy’s Outing, as part
of her BTEC Performing Arts course. Ella’s show was extremely well received by the children, and she should feel very proud
of her performance. In comparison with this piece, Ella had to devise a contrasting piece of theatre. Inspired by a modern play
about the creation of stories, Ella cleverly re-imagined the work into a one-woman show, using recorded voice-over techniques. The
audience of College pupils were moved by the tenderly told journey of the writer struggling to find a beginning, and Ella showcased
her abilities in an exemplary manner.
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