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IMPORTANT DATES:

100 Year 9 Students see Macbeth at the

Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch

Text Box: This production of Macbeth, realised by director Bob Carlton in Hornchurch’s Queen’s Theatre, saw ‘The Scottish Play’ reconfigured as a modern tale of ‘vaulting ambition’ set in the gangland underbelly of London’s East End. It is no exaggeration to say that the performance, like the trip itself (smoothly organised and governed by Ms. Purnell), was a resounding success. Leaving promptly from Parsloes Avenue after lunch, two Bard- bound buses whisked a hundred Year Nine students eastbound. Pupils have been studying Macbeth as the Shakespeare component for their SATs English course. This however was the first opportunity for many to see the play as the Stratfordian intended, live on stage. Having first dealt with the obligatory business of cramming rather unlikely sized bags of M and M’s into their blazer pockets, the Year nines filtered into the auditorium and took their seats with minimal fuss. It was gratifying to hear both teachers from other schools and members of the public comment on the exceptional behaviour and courtesy of Sydney Russell pupils. During the interval, students were discussing director Bob Carlton’s interpretation of the set scenes with their English teacher and it was enjoyable to be talking about various aspects of the

the more violent incidents in the play provoked the most comment.

The play itself was a radical departure from the traditionalist fare of many BBC and RSC creations, featuring sharp- suited, gun- toting thanes squabbling for power and status under a splendidly cantankerous King Duncan. Bombs planted in a coldly modern underground car park, a Lady Macbeth as fragile as she was libidinous, witches with more of a debt to crack cocaine than to cauldrons all mated to the familiar plot with the original Shakespearean language, helped the students to clarify hitherto confusing scenes as well as offer a different interpretation of the play’s characters.

Mr Pollicut - English Department

Thank you to Photographer Nobby Clark, has kindly given his permission for us to use this photograph in our newsletter.

Friday	May 26th	Last day of school before half-term holiday (students dismissed at
		normal time - 3.00 p.m.)
Monday	June 5th	Return to school after half-term break at normal time - 8.50 a.m.
		Years 7 and 8 exam week
		Year 13 Study Leave begins
Wednesday	June 7th	7.00 pm PTFA Committee Meeting
Saturday	June 10th	PTFA Car Boot Sale
Thursday	June 29th	7.00 p.m. School Summer Production Performance
Tuesday	July 4th	4.30 p.m. Year 8 Parents' Evening and Reports Issued
Thursday	July 6th	Year 13 Leavers Party
Saturday	July 8th	PTFA Car Boot Sale
Monday	July 10th	Non– Uniform Day
Thursday	July 13th	4.30 p.m. Year 7 Parents' Evening and Year 7 Reports issued
Friday	July 21st	Last day of school before Summer holiday. Students will be
		dismissed at approximately mid-day -Non Uniform Day