FONTHILL LODGE PUPILS PERFORM "THE TEMPEST"

Fonthill Lodge School Play

 The senior pupils at Fonthill Lodge explored Shakespeare’s rich story of The Tempest to put on their annual summer production.   The Coombe Hill Road school sang, danced and enacted the wonderful story of Prospero’s magical island in a production adapted by Nick Perrin and Ruth Kenward.  Prospero, played with poise and authority by Georgia Volrath-Dale, uses his magical powers to shipwreck the family who caused him to be marooned on the island with his daughter, Miranda, twelve years ago.  The family is brought safely ashore by Aerial, played by Millie Wood and Silvian played by Molly Taylor-Prevett.  The wonderful dancing ability of both these pupils who study ballet at Fonthill Lodge under the guidance of associate dance school, Roshe School of Dancing, and their Sprites was highlighted as the troupe weaved their magical dances around the characters.

The audience was moved by the performance of Miranda, played by Amelia Hawney, as she meets Ferdinand, played by Amelia Ellis and the two performed a beautiful, poignant duet.  Miranda has not seen another human being since she was three.  Her island has been filled with magical monsters, hobgoblins and sprites, all of whom sang and danced with character and gusto in magnificent costumes and make-up created by the school’s DT teacher, Nicola Chivers and her team. 

Particularly popular was the comedic ability of Lucas Day who played the island’s monster Caliban.  Lucas together with Chloe Taylor and Isabella Lee, brought down the house as they stumbled around, hatching a drunken plot after coming across some shipwrecked wine.

The Producer, Nick Forrest, Head of Performing Arts at Fonthill Lodge and himself a well-known star of opera in the South East, brought out the individual lead characters. Every member of the senior school was on stage to retell that favourite Shakespearean tale. They sang and danced with a live band - Bill McEwen on piano, Mike Saunders on Bass, Phil Paton on Clarinet and Saxaphone and Dave Trigwell on Drums.

After each performance a collection was taken for The Alzheimer’s Society.  The audiences then were treated to home-made éclairs, meringues and chocolate cake made by the school’s Head of Catering, Carol Blackmore.

“Mr Forrest, our Head of Performing Arts, has great skill in choosing the right play for each departing Year 6 to lead” said Dr Simon Willcocks, Head.  “The Tempest was a play that needed great skill to ensure that the Shakespearean words were understood by the cast so that they could be delivered with conviction.  The pupils proved that they were certainly up to that challenge and really enjoyed performing the famous story”.