This year the children performed Brush Up Your Shakespeare, an original comedy written and directed by myself, Mr Little, with Musical Direction by Miss Philip. Celebrating all things Shakespearean, Brush Up Your Shakespeare was a collection of sketches and songs inspired by the Bard.

The sketches were a mixture of modern writing and scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. The traditional action included the lovers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream arguing whilst under the influence of Puck’s love potion; Bottom and his mechanicals’ farcical ‘play within a play’ and the atmospheric, blood-curdling witches spell from Macbeth. Modern sketches included a whistle-stop tour of Shakespeare’s History plays via the medium of rugby; Shakespeare being called in by his literary agents to trim down some of the boring monologues in Hamlet; a Historical Celebrity Special episode of Mastermind and Shakespeare attempting to convince his friends that Hamlet is a tragedy and not a comedy.

The children were fantastic, acting and singing with commitment and verve. The performance was very well-received by the appreciative audience who were captivated, entertained and moved to tears. A one-off performance from the Y8 rock band, Ginger and the Normals, was another highlight in an evening of memorable moments. Well done Y8!

SL, Head of Drama