Drama scholars and enrichment students were treated to a screening of Iphigenia In Splott earlier this week, and a post-performance discussion took pace the following day. Year 11’s Isaac reports on the screening and the discussion that followed.
Isaac, Year 11
Iphigenia In Splott is a gripping story about sacrifice, loss, and the struggles that those affected by poverty, addiction, and social injustice face. The play, written by Gary Owen, draws inspiration from the Greek myth of Iphigenia. Sticking to the same narrative but reimagining the story as if it was set in Splott, a district in Cardiff, Wales, whilst adapting it to depict modern day issues and topics.
The play centres around Effie – a complex, tenacious yet vulnerable young women who struggles with addiction and relationships with the people around her. Played by the amazing Sophie Melville, who meticulously used every moment in this one-woman performance to show the audience what was going on in Effie’s mind and the journey she was going through.
After watching the performance and having a great post-performance discussion with Ms Mayes and a group of fellow students with lots of different views about Effie and the story itself, I felt it helped me better understand the piece of theatre I had watched. I’m sure discussing brilliant pieces of theatre will benefit me and everyone else that are lucky enough to watch them and that we will be able to incorporate the topics explored into the theatre we create at school.
