Shakespeare Schools Festival

OthelloOn the evening of Friday 15th October, Catford Broadway Theatre was brought to life in a profusion of colour, drama and tragedy in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’

A group of students from Year 11 worked tirelessly this half term.  They rehearsed every nightafter school to create what was described by one of the organisers of the Shakespeare School’s Festival, as an ’empowering and powerful piece of drama’.  As he addressed the audience at the end of the evening, he went on to say that Conisborough’s interpreation of the play with our addition of the Civil Rights movement setting, were highly effective on stage.

Shakespeare Schools Festival

OthelloOn the evening of Friday 15th October, Catford Broadway Theatre was brought to life in a profusion of colour, drama and tragedy in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’

A group of students from Year 11 worked tirelessly this half term.  They rehearsed every nightafter school to create what was described by one of the organisers of the Shakespeare School’s Festival, as an ’empowering and powerful piece of drama’.  As he addressed the audience at the end of the evening, he went on to say that Conisborough’s interpreation of the play with our addition of the Civil Rights movement setting, were highly effective on stage.

Under the theatre lights, the wonderful costumes, designed and created by Mrs Moyes, leapt out at the audience.

Othello1The fantastic detail of the costumes was again remarked upon by the festival, as were the flags used on stage.  Thanks must go to Daniella Briscoe Peaple, Mr Soffe and the Art department for their help creating them.

The festival was a fantastic opportunity for Conisborough College to celebrate links with other schools in the area and the audience was treated to a night of entertaining theatre.

Hextable School performed a less well known play ‘The Winter’s Tale’ and Parkwood Hall School offered a very moving performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Othello2All of the schools performed to an extremely high standard and it was a brilliant occasion for the students involved to develop their understanding of Shakespeare and recognise its relevance to current day life.

The entire cast were congratulated on their wide range of emotional performances, in which they articulated and projected every word.

A special mention must be made for the lead roles, Othello and Lago, played by Louisa Fairclough and Rebecca Oloyede, who gave incredibly mature performances on stage.  Members of the cast excelled themselves with the concentration and intensity of their performances.
Mr ConnHead of Drama

Othello3Othello4The school would like to thank Mr Conn and Mrs Moyes for their dedication and hardwork in bringing the performance together and offering the students the opportunity to develop and perform at a professional theatre.