Romeo & Juliet – Class 10 Play

It was such a pleasure to see this delightful class, whose lessons I have visited over so many years, performing Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Under the guidance of their excellent English teacher, Nancy Urry, the two casts gave lively, warm, dramatic, at moments humorous, but above all deeply moving performances. This was no drama-class production; every member of the class carried a part on stage, and each one was word-perfect, so that the audience was swept along on the flow of the powerful emotions expressed with such spirit and integrity.

Two moments call for special mention: the first, the fearful fight between Mercutio and Tybalt, for which the antagonists had been brilliantly trained by parent Mateus Owens; the second, the tragic, heart-breaking death scene which brings the play to an end. Who did not cry a tear whilst watching this, has surely no heart!

A somewhat bleak, modern setting provided the background against which first the delightful wooing, then the tragic deaths of the young lovers were played out, and all was enhanced by the excellent lighting and sound.

A big thank you to Class 10 – for your last gift to the school before you all step out to your new schools and colleges; also to Nancy and the whole splendid support team.

Review by Christine Polyblank