Year 12’s Theatre Trip Reports – September 2024
Last Friday, A level Drama students were treated to an all-day London theatre trip where they were lucky enough to catch a matinee and evening performance. Hear from Year 12’s Phoebe and Emily, as they share their thoughts and feelings about the productions in their reports below.
Viola’s Room – 1 Cartridge Place, Woolwich
Reviewed by Phoebe
Punchdrunk has re-defined immersive theatre with Viola’s Room, a haunting exploration of innocence, womanhood and growing up; themes which connected the group, as well as feelings of awe and anticipation! From shadow puppets, to handcrafted life size popup books, it felt like Daisy Johnson had whisked us back to our childhood, propelling us through a whirlwind journey of nostalgia, chaos, and comfort.
On this audio-described journey, we delved into the fantastical world of the young princess; held under the trance of the ballet slipper she escapes reality, losing herself to the freedom of dancing, freed from the rules of the palace. From beginning to end, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, the suspense and tension of each unfolding event making us feel as though we were losing control, compelling us to grab hold of whoever was next to us!
Guided only by light and sound, we found ourselves travelling around a complex set of tunnels and meticulously detailed rooms – directed every step of the way by the familiar voice of Helena Bonham Carter. It was the attention to detail that put this above anything else I have experienced; it truly was an unforgettable experience!
The Other Place – National Theatre, South Bank
Reviewed by Emily
Directed by Alexander Zeldin, The Other Place is a contemporary reimagining of Sophocles’ classic Greek tragedy, Antigone. This modernisation was expertly handled, and the production did everything we want Greek drama to do; explore weighty themes, such as familial feuds, whilst introducing the audience to complex characters who developed over the course of the play.
This production had a stellar cast but one performance that stood out to me was that of Alison Oliver who played Issy, one of the two sisters at the forefront of the story. Oliver brilliantly captured the essence of the character portrayed in the original tragedy whilst bringing a new grit that only elevated her performance.
The tension created on-stage was palpable and rippled throughout the audience, not only during the climax of the performance but in a range of moments that permeated throughout the production. This left us with a real sense of catharsis as we left the theatre, making The Other Place such an enjoyable watch.
