Our Drama Department are rightfully proud of the students who put on two powerful performances of DNA by Dennis Kelly, on Thursday night.
Filled with dark humour, the poignant play is about a group of teenagers who have accidentally killed one of their classmates. When they realise the terrible mistake they have made, they try to cover up the crime, but inadvertently implicate an innocent man in the process. Instead of coming clean, the group weave a dark, complex web of lies.
The production was imaginatively staged, with tiered seating on opposite sides of the set. It gave the actors an additional challenge of performing to their audiences in opposite directions.
Two separate casts performed the back-to-back performances, which were originally scheduled for separate evenings. Faced with the week’s events and disrupted rehearsals, all those involved (students and staff) showed outstanding resilience.
Drama Teacher, Miss Serrechia remarked: “Well done to both casts for two amazing performances. As always, our students have amazed us with their hard work and dedication.”
She added: “An enormous thank you goes to everyone (including, parents, site and admin staff) who helped to make it happen, especially as lots of the parents and staff helped us strike the set at the end!”
Sixth Form student, Lucy Harrison played Rikki. She said, “There was more pressure being set in the round and it felt quite exposing as you were visible the whole time, but it made it exciting to have different location settings on the stage. Everyone had to be responsible for knowing their lines really well. Even when you didn’t have a line, you had to make sure you were still performing. I didn’t have the biggest part, but I finished the play with a monologue, so I enjoyed the build up to the ending.”
Isla Watson played Lou in cast A, she said, “Because it was a play, rather than a musical that we usually do, we were able to try different acting styles. The performances went really well, despite not having as much dress rehearsal time. Everyone was so supportive of each other.”
Jessica Ostle, who played Briony in Cast A, commented, “It was a good experience – rehearsals were great fun and everyone got on really well. I’m sad it’s over now!”
Our appreciation goes to our Drama staff, especially Miss Serrechia, Miss Inglesfield and Ms Lewis, for the boundless time and energy they gave to enable the production to be staged.