Sennockian 2023-2024 | Page 49

In December a group of Lower Sixth students staged a production of Jean Anouilh ’ s Antigone in the Drama Studio .
The play tells the story of Antigone ( played superbly by Rosie Spence ), daughter of the former King of Thebes , and her quest to secure burial rites for her disgraced brother , Polynices , against the wishes of the King and her soon-to-be father – in – law Creon ( an equally impressive Suleiman Majeed ), eventually concluding in tragedy . The staging , costume and props brought a contemporary twist to the play while its ancient themes stayed true : pride , emotion versus reason , destiny , morality and , in particular , power . Confident artistic choices brought this into focus , in particular the intimate staging in the Drama Studio , with a small audience in the round , feeling close to the unfolding drama . A decisive point was a long monologue delivered by Creon , which in the close setting of the studio magnified the complex emotional landscape of the play .
Reviews by students ( always the harshest critics ) were positive ( ranging from ‘ good ’ and ‘ entertaining ’ to describing the performances as ‘ amazing ’). Many singled out the point at which Creon smashed his hand upon his office table when arguing with Antigone as a particular highlight . All credit goes to the following for their excellent performances : Matilda Baines as Ismene , Arthuro Stephan as Haemon , Leila Charara as the Nurse , James Williams , Poppy Crosthwaite and Emily Chiaia- Miller as guards Jonas , Snout and Bins , and Georgie Williams , Kaja Ganeshalingam and Somerset Lovett as a striking Chorus .
Another sold-out and popular Sevenoaks School Theatre Company performance , this was a testament to the talent displayed by our actors , the skill of our teachers , and the fantastic equipment and space utilised to make productions genuinely inspiring . Overall , Antigone was a tremendous production , with interesting artistic choices that made for a very personal and emotionally in-touch experience .
Noah Majic Koncar , Lower Sixth
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