January 30th 2023
With thanks to Mr Johnson for writing this piece:
An excited group of 39 Year 7 students from Sherborne Prep School arrived at Greenfields, the Theatre of Sherborne International School on the morning of Monday 23rd of January.
They had only been cast in the play Wendy an adaptation of the JM Barrie Peter Pan story by Ella Hickson on the previous Friday and were expected to perform the play to the school and their parents the following Friday.
So, it was full steam ahead for rehearsals and by the end of play on Tuesday, the show had been blocked. The students rose to the challenge and learned their lines, their entrances and exits, how to stage fight and how to deal with costumes and props.
Meanwhile the director and producer were working around the clock to provide all the above as well as a set for the students to work with.
The final piece of staging, the window for the Peter Pan Darling family children to fly out of was completed on the Thursday. Two beds for the Nursery, assembled by Mrs Gent, Headteacher and Mrs Harris, Deputy Head, were doubling as both Neverland backdrop and a pirate ship.
The final technical rehearsal took place on Friday morning with two year 7 students running lights and sound - these had been set up during the week with help from the Senior School technicians and the chairs were put out ready for the "Dress rehearsal" in front of the rest of the Prep school. Much excitement and shouts of "I can't find my hook", or "where is my costume, I'm sure I put it back on the wardrobe rail" were heard and dealt with and then it was lights up for the show.
A few minor challenges were dealt with, as with any dress rehearsal, including a broken bed and a few lines missed due to nerved but the school audience appeared to love it and cheered and clapped in support of their colleagues on stage.
Now it was time for the show for parents. Bed fixed, lines remembered, all props and costumes retrieved, and it was curtain up. After 70 minutes which featured four pupils playing Wendy, three playing Peter Pan, three playing Captain Hooks, two crocodiles and two Smees there was rapturous applause from the audience which said it all. A triumph!
To paraphrase one of Peter Pan's famous lines - "to put on a show in a week is an awfully big adventure!" so a huge well done is due to all the cast in this ensemble piece of story telling for pulling it off. And a massive thanks to Sherborne prep school staff and all the others involved in helping to get this show on the road!
View all the rehearsal photos here.
