Year 12 and 13 A-level Drama students were thoroughly immersed in the German theatre tradition this week, at a workshop and live performance of Woyzeck from the Kat Mary Productions theatre company.
Since Georg Büchner’s play was left incomplete at his death in 1837, it has been variously and posthumously finished and has become one of the most performed and influential plays in the German theatre repertoire. It is a set text on the Colfe’s A-level Edexcel syllabus, so taking part in this workshop was a valuable experience for the students, and one which gave them practical insight into the text’s themes and issues.
Kat Mary Productions’ depiction of Woyzeck is set amidst the backdrop of WW1, portraying the lowly soldier traumatised by war, plagued by visions of the apocalypse and plunged into homicidal lunacy by the world around him. Students took part in a workshop exploring the styles of Brecht, Berkoff and Artaud, before actively taking part in the show alongside the professional members.
Meanwhile, GCSE Drama students from Years 10-11 watched a live performance of a poignant production from visiting Wizard Theatre Company of I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die, a GCSE set text on the Eduqas syllabus.
Mark Wheeller’s play tells the story of 16-year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, who died after taking illegal recreational drugs on a night out with friends. The story is told through the words of Dan’s family and friends, transcribed from interviews and crafted into the text. Through the verbatim production and following interactive workshop, students explored how devastating the loss of a young life is for the family, friends and the wider community.
Director of Drama, Natalie Maher, said: ““The Woyzeck workshop was an excellent opportunity for students to develop their performance skills and explore different approaches to theatre. They explored multi-roling, narration, sound scaping, audience interaction, physical theatre, multi-purpose props, and heightened characterization.
“We were also privileged to see the memorable production of I Love You Mum. The play had a reality to it that had a real impact on our students, and was a wonderful illustration of how the art of drama can deliver important messages so directly and effectively. This was a significant opportunity for our students to gain practical insight into PSHEE themes and issues, which are invaluable for young people finding their way in the world.”