Year 8 Brings Shakespeare’s The Tempest to the Stage
Written by Lydia B, Drama Leader, Year 11
‘Magic, music and mayhem!’
On Thursday 12th November, Year 8 took to the stage to deliver an enthralling performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. In just an hour and a half, the entire class managed to capture the essence of Shakespeare’s famous last play, bringing it to life through charismatic acting, hilarious comedy and impressive musical performances. From start to finish, the audience was completely captivated and thoroughly entertained.
One of the great strengths of the production was the way the class handled the play’s shifts in tone. The darker themes of betrayal, power and revenge were balanced beautifully with moments of warmth, romance and comedy. The comic scenes were particularly effective, with excellent timing and physical humour, while the more serious moments gave the production real emotional weight.
Ultimately, Prospero chooses forgiveness and reconciliation over revenge, despite having the power to punish all those who have wronged him. This heartwarming conclusion highlights the importance of kindness, compassion and forgiveness, bringing the performance to a wonderfully joyful and uplifting close.
One of the most outstanding elements was the music and singing woven throughout the performance. There were beautiful solo performances, recorder and guitar accompaniment, and an impressive two-part harmony from the whole class. Another memorable moment was the class performance of The Greatest Showman, accompanied by drums and dramatic lighting. Mrs Phillips praised the production, commenting that the “breaks of music and poetry blended well with the incredible acting”.
For me, one of the highlights was its brilliant handling of the comedy, which brought a wonderfully light-hearted touch to Shakespeare’s otherwise complex and dramatic play. The goddesses’ scene was full of character, humour and joy, and the imaginative staging throughout added to the sense of spectacle, particularly with the moving carriage.
Of course, a huge thank you must go to Mrs Burden, who dedicated so much time and energy to bringing this production together, alongside Mrs Simmons and Mrs Lowe. Mrs Burden summed it up beautifully when she said that the “children brought out wonderful things from the play”.
All in all, every member of the class performed with enthusiasm, confidence and commitment. One audience member commented that they found themselves laughing one moment and almost in tears the next, a fitting reflection of a production that was both entertaining and genuinely moving, as well as the incredible talent in Year 8.
