Theatre

We strive to provide opportunities for students to experience the wealth of live professional theatre in our local area. This supports the learning of GCSE Literature texts and aids revision and exam success, but also develops their cultural capital.

We have recently taken a group of Year 11 students to a production of An Inspector Calls, and we are planning a trip to see a production of Macbeth in the Summer Term.

An Inspector Calls

Rosie – Year 10

I really enjoyed the performance of “An Inspector Calls” at the Blackpool Grand Theatre. The highlight for me was the staging and the set design, which included a large dollhouse-like structure that opened out to display the Birlings’ iconic dining room. There were many exciting special effects which really helped exaggerate the more serious parts of the play. A few of my favourites were light explosions, fog and rain.

The acting was similarly dramatic, and the actors’ voices were loud, sharp and clear, making the performance enjoyable and easy to follow. There was also a selection of background actors, who helped move the story along and make the set more interesting. I also thought the lighting was cool and melancholic, which also contributed to the atmosphere of the play.

Maria – Year 11

I found the Blackpool performance of An Inspector Calls, for the most part, quite incredible, with one of the most standout aspects surprisingly found in the staging. A large, flat opening to reveal a dining room, was suspended proudly over the rest of the stage! This was a visual marvel in its own right; however, it was effectively used spectacularly to evaluate the themes of the play in a way that you would simply not be able to experience if you simply read the play by itself. Characters would come down from it when they stopped considering themselves above the level of the common man. This, combined with a wonderful rain effect at the start of the performance, made for a real spectacle to behold.

The piece revolves around an inspector coming to visit an upper-class family, to discuss the suicide of a woman, and their involvement in it. While the beginning of the performance did feel a little boring at the start, it gradually built-up momentum throughout the whole thing and did not let go until the end. The beginning of the piece effectively displayed the members of the families self-centered nature and arrogance. Arrogance, which made it all the more satisfying to watch as the inspector, one by one, shattered the family’s perception of themselves, their actions, and each other.

As someone who was completely unaware of the plot of the play going in, I found myself very interested in watching the aftermath of the inspector’s visit, which all built up to a shocking twist. The play has an ambiguous ending; and while this may frustrate some audience members, leaving them feeling unsatisfied, maybe even infuriated, I personally found it incredibly intriguing, and believe it does an outstandingly effective job at bringing the audience to think and hammering home the ideas of the piece in their minds.

All in all, I found the play quite enjoyable. Despite a few minor problems, the play is well worth watching, and I would recommend the play to anybody who has not seen or read it before, interested in its themes of societal and class inequality, or if just looking for something to do in the area!

Macbeth

Watch this space for student reviews..