DRAMA WE HAVE, WE HAVE ROCKED YOU!


Matravers’ Theatre was filled with bold staging, extravagant costumes and exceptional musical theatre talent from 4th -7th December 2018. The cast and crew worked incredibly hard to produce a show of the highest standard and I can proudly say, each and every person involved in the team, completed their job brilliantly and the result was sublime. In four days, the cast performed to five audiences, including Year 6 students from our feeder primary schools. The responses from our audiences have been incredible, and whilst their compliments have been very flattering, I believe very well deserved.


The approach to the staging and direction of this year’s production was bold and effective; a large but minimal stage, filled with symbolic lighting, incredible graphics and videography (created by the talented Mr Tom Young), bright and striking costumes, with minimal set to ensure slick scene changes and maximum energy throughout.


The wonder of Queen’s music is not an easy sing: bold, rocky, operatic, demanding in scale, but our students took on all of the teaching and advice from the incredible Mrs Sarah Phillips, and under her musical direction, delivered with such passion and accuracy that the crowds responded by raising the roof, night after night.


The cast really stunned the creative team this year, especially the principles. I’ll start with the talented a-Maisie-ing Long, playing the role of Scaramouche. Maisie is now in Year 11, but has had a prominent presence in the performing arts since her arrival in Year 7. In Year 8, she was cast as Lambchops in ‘Fame’, however, we called on her to fill the larger role of Mabel, late in the rehearsal process. This completely demonstrates what Maisie is about: hard work and success. She was a young year 8 student but this didn’t matter; she seized the opportunity and delivered it superbly. Although she has been amazing in every performance since playing Mabel, watching her in ‘We Will Rock You’ wasastounding. Maisie has such talent, presence and skill; it is hard to believe she is only fifteen. Her characterisation was utterly convincing and full of energy, the strength of her vocal delivery was outstanding, and everyone knows that this girl can dance! I can, without any doubt, say that this young lady has the ability to go far.


www.matravers.wilts.sch.uk


We are saying good bye to many of our long standing performers this year, three of whom were among our principle performers: Daniel Jones, Tom Bond and Cameron Sinden. Galileo was played brilliantly by Dan Jones. Watching Dan performing was a pleasure, as he has grown so much as a performer throughout the process of this year’s show. This is the first principle role, Dan has played, but he has clearly been saving up talent and energy for this year, as he gave his all! Anybody who knows Tom, will immediately think ‘voice’. The range in his voice is stunning; it is hard not to be moved by his dulcet tones. I think it is fair to say that he was ‘glammed up’ more than he was initially expecting, to play Killer Queen, but he performed the role with style and sass, eye shadow and knee high boots, and was fabulous in doing so! Cameron Sinden has performed many roles within our productions, but his portrayal of Khashoggi was his highlight; he was perfect. His sinister and sneering characterisation created a dark comedy throughout the vibrant production.


These marvellous individuals are not the only successes of the show, far from it, but there are too many to mention in one short article! All I can say is ‘thank you and congratulations’ to each and every individual involved in the show. I cannot wait to see what next year brings for those who remain and gets to ‘take the reins’!


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