At AS the candidates are expected to perform a script of their choice in a particular style and at A Level the expectation is that they devise their own work. All their decisions need to be fully justified and explained in writing. Internally assessed and externally moderated, the process is rigorous and the girls are examined not only in terms of their final performance but also in terms of their contribution to and understanding of the rehearsal process.
Inspired by the work that they had done in our workshop earlier in the term with Tim McMullan from theatre company Complicite both groups decided that they wanted to work in that style. The LVI chose to perform scenes from Sarah Kane’s deeply psychological play 4:48 Psychosis. The play was written throughout the autumn and winter of 1998-99 as Kane battled with one of her recurrent bouts of depression. On 20th February, 1999, aged 28, the playwright committed suicide. On the page, the piece looks like a poem. No characters are named, and even their number is unspecified. It could be a journey through one person’s mind, or an interview between a doctor and his patient. The UVI were just as ambitious, choosing to do a creative adaptation of Alexander Pope’s mock heroic poem; The Rape of the Lock. It was fascinating to see how different the two pieces were from the simple rawness and clinical physical theatre approach that the LVI took, to the stylised and highly technical comedy of the UVI. The final examination took place in St Mary’s Theatre on Monday 10th March and the evening was well attended by parents, staff and pupils. All the girls must be congratulated on all their hard work.
Ms O’Connor, Director of Drama