Another year and the end of another school play. As I look back fondly on the blood, sweat and tears of the rehearsal process, I remember when it all started with the auditions in September and the difficulties I faced trying to find parts for all of the talented students who auditioned. It can’t be the dilemma of too many directors that there is too much talent and not enough parts in the play. Following call backs and some beefing up of the smaller parts, the play was finally cast and it was time for the real work. Rehearsals started in earnest.

Opening night arrived and all my fears that we were never going to be ready vanished. The cast were superb and behaved with a professionalism that belied their years. The stage managers, Zoe Parker and Amy Petrie, and their assistants were so efficient that I felt redundant back stage, and so on the second night I took my place in the audience.

As the music started and the lights went up, I waited apprehensively. Would it be as good as last night? I need not have worried. From the moment that Alice’s Big Sister, Abigail Tallamy, stepped through the curtains I was transported with the rest of the audience to a magical world where anything could happen and frequently did.

Charlotte Miller was outstanding as Alice encapsulating her innocence, confusion and annoyance with the nonsensical events around her from the moment she followed The White Rabbit, a believable Michael Guthrie who twitched and scampered his way through the play, down the rabbit hole. We shared Alice’s confusion and laughed at her clumsy attempts to befriend The Mouse with the Long Tail, an exquisite Meg Petrie, and the other animals who came in to shelter from the rain.  Her journey was aided by the ever present Frog and Fish Footmen, Rebecca Evans-Flowers and Mary Hunt, who oversaw the events and helped and hindered Alice as the mood took them.

There were superb performances from Cian Jarvis, the March Hare, and Ryan Daly, the Mad Hatter, who brought their unique blend of madness to the Tea Party, teasing the long suffering Dormouse, an adorable performance by Elise Cockerton.   Accompanied by the long suffering King of Hearts, Liam Barter, the Queen of Hearts, Kerry Westgate, was suitably frightening as she roared, “Off with their heads!” in a voice that shook at least the first few rows. Meanwhile, the Knave of Hearts, Jacob Asghar, pulled at the audience’s heart strings as he tried in vain to get rid of the remaining tarts.

Other notable performances included The Duchess, Rhiannon Thomas, and the Cook, Megan Parker, who provided a fierce double act; as well as the vague Mock Turtle, Archie Gunning, and the wise Gryphon, Will Dowling. Last but by no means least the Gardeners, Sophie Cottle, Sophie Weaver and Abby Bolton, provided plenty of laughter with their comic performance as they attempted to paint the roses red.

A special mention must go to all those people who made the play a success including any members of the cast I haven’t mentioned so far. Nicola Harris and the other musicians did a brilliant job as did Simon Britnell and his team of lighting technicians led by Ash Brown and Ed Burrell. Finally, I must thank Julie Baldwin, Ashleigh Pomphrey and Zoe Gale for the fantastic makeup and Tess Atkins and Freya Casto for the fabulous costumes.

The play was an amazing success and I am really looking forward to next year, although there is still the Sixth Form Play to come in the summer.

Mrs Kocziban

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