Since September, pupils who have been part of the drama production activity have been working incredibly hard in rehearsals for ‘Macbeth’. This year’s performance was a contemporary version of the traditional play, weaving physical theatre, and immersive and site-specific theatre together.

Physical theatre is a form of theatre that relies upon movement rather than the spoken word; movement becomes the main form of storytelling. Another common feature of physical theatre is having multiple actors play the same character. In this production, the same character could be recognised by the same costume.

At the start of the process, the pupils were introduced to physical theatre. They learnt about different practitioners and companies, such as Frantic Assembly, Gecko Theatre, and Punchdrunk. They began the process by exploring physical theatre through practical workshops to understand the elements of this genre. The pupils then used this knowledge to develop a physical and immersive exploration of the story.

As well as the modern take on acting, pupils have also envisaged the entire school as their stage. Site-specific theatre has grown in popularity over recent years but is still avant-garde with only a few major groups conducting dramatic
performances in this way. Throughout the performance, scenes took place on different stages, transporting the audience to the witch’s cavern, Macbeth’s home, and the King’s castle. The pupils performed successfully over two days; performing one matinee and evening show each day. The focus and characterisation was outstanding, bringing this challenging story to life. I look forward to next year’s production, especially working with our talented pupils!