FOLLOWING the sell-out success of 'Oh! What A Lovely War' , Tavistock College's Creative Arts Faculty are busy putting together their next senior college production. 

Rehearsals have started for the December production of A Midsummer Night's Dream while the art and DT teams are busy with the design side of the show. 

The cast has a range of actors from Years 9 to 13 who are all looking forward to performing their contemporary version of the Shakespearean classic in December. 

Phoebe Adams, Year 13 and deputy head girl, who will play Hippolyta, said: 'I am so excited to be given the chance to be involved in a Shakespearean play as I have never had the opportunity before, and I feel it will support my transition to drama school next year".

The play is being directed and produced by professional director Natasha Buckley and head of creative arts at the college Eva Pearson. 

It is a great opportunity for the cast to work in a professional model and give them an insight to working as a real performance company.  

Natasha said: 'It is a great privilege to return to the college to work on this production.

'My role is an envious one as the quality of support from Mrs Salmon (college principal), Eva Pearson's faculty and the whole college is unparalleled elsewhere. Add to this the exceptional skills and talent displayed by the student body, makes this work exciting, dynamic and innovative. I feel very, very lucky to be involved, this dream will be like no other.'

The teaching team have made sure that students not only have the chance to be on stage but also work across the art forms in dance and music or be backstage.

Tegan Cunningham, Year 13, will take on the role of assistant director/producer, art club students are already busy making the props, while aspiring set and costume designers are working to produce sketches of the set and various character outfits.  The show will be run front of house and technically by students under the expert tuition of Richard Tucker, performing arts technician.   

Natasha has been working hard on transforming the script into a contemporary Shakespeare piece yet still keeping in the beautiful Old English that everyone associates with Shakespeare. 

The show is to be performed in Tavistock College on December 12, 13 and 14, where the audience will be invited in to the magical world of spirits and sprites, mechanicals and the mortals where the world as we know it will be turned on its head.

The production team is looking for fake Christmas trees of all sizes to dress the set. It you have one you no longer require and would like to donate it to the production please contact Richard Tucker on 01822 614231 ex 288 or [email protected]">[email protected]