Being part of the Sevenoaks School Theatre Company ( SSTC ) production of The Winter ’ s Tale , with performances in the Sackville Theatre and then on tour in Germany , was an incredible experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life .
There was a time that we thought we wouldn ’ t have the chance to take a show to Germany thanks to Covid-19 , but after working on the production for over a year , we finally made it – the first time the school had returned on tour since 2019 .
Everyone put their all into this show . Actors I have known for up to seven years gave their best performances , proving how far we ’ ve all come since we first got involved in the Drama department . I greatly commend the show ’ s casting , as every actor fitted their role perfectly , and feedback from audience members was incredibly complimentary . The Winter ’ s Tale is a complex play , yet we heard that this production brought clarity from beginning to end and was a joy to watch , with the story of a family broken apart resonating with contemporary audiences .
It was an amazing collaborative project , not only bringing together a large cast of students from different year groups , but also students with a huge variety of skills . The emotion captured by the music and lighting would not have been possible without the talent and hard work of the tech crew . Props and sets , including skilful use of puppetry , would have been chaos if not for the sensational backstage team .
We grew so close , spending time together as cast and crew , and forming lasting memories . Touring in Germany also allowed us to form bonds with our host families and engage in German culture . It was fantastic to gain their feedback on our show , and we ’ re glad that the Shakespearean language , which would confuse even the most fluent English speaker , did not prevent them from being captivated by the gravitas of the storytelling . I want to thank our astounding directors , Mr Grant and Mr Beverley , the masterminds and visionaries who allowed our show to achieve such immeasurable heights .
This was one of the best productions I have participated in – and one of the most emotional . I couldn ’ t ask for a better way to round out my seven years performing at Sevenoaks School . I will miss all of you , and only have good memories of the SSTC . For the cast members who still have a few years to go , I can ’ t wait to see what the Drama department has in store next !
Tabitha Bolter , Upper Sixth
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