By Dariga Atayeva, year 10
On March 10th and 11th, the year 10 theatre group performed an incredibly captivating play based on the novel Noughts and Crosses. A book about racism, two lovers and friends from two different social groups, it perfectly illustrates a fight for equality and unconditional love. From an early age, Callum (a Nought from a poor family) and Sephy (a Cross from a wealthy family) have become close friends and eventually lovers. Callum’s brother and father got involved in a Nought terrorist organisation which Callum hates but joins after the death of his sister and father. He regrets this later on when he has to kidnap Sephy. In this society, a Nought and a Coss cannot be together. The story ends with Sephy pregnant with Calum’s child and his execution.
The play was a great reproduction of the book, covering all the main and important parts. Due to a large number of cast members, the characters often switched actors. This might have confused a few people from the audience. We interviewed two of the actors, Maude Thorens (who plays Lynette, Callum’s sister) and Diya Doda (playing Sephy) on how they felt performing in front of their classmates and their insights about the year 10 drama curriculum.
What was the most fun part of rehearsal?
Diya: Getting ready with everyone in the bathroom and borrowing beauty products from each other while gossiping about the play.
Maude: The little moments where we played games together in a circle. For example, in one of those games, someone started saying a line from the play and we had to continue the scene and that was super fun!
What was the longest time you had to stay in rehearsing?
Diya: Weekends from 9 am til 5 pm; it was fun although tiring. It was beneficial to have had a lot of time to work on our performance.
Maude: I feel like the weekends were most productive because once we were there, often when we started getting concentrated time flew really quickly. Everyone got to participate as well.
Who did you play and which part did you wish to get?
Diya: I played Sephy, and if I could’ve played anyone else, I would’ve probably played Meggie (Callum’s mother) since she was really interesting.
Maude: I played Lynette and the prison governor; if I could’ve played anyone else I would’ve most likely have played Meggie or Jasmine. However, I enjoyed playing Lynette’s part and I was disappointed that she had to die so soon since that also meant the end of my career.
Who was the best audience?
Diya : The easiest ones to act in front were the parents in my opinion because they were really quiet and watched respectfully.
Maude: Yeah and the year 10 were probably the worst audience in a way because they were the ones with whom we giggled and laughed the most, but they were the best audience as in enjoyment wise ; even if we got penalised for laughing. By the way, they bring our grades down from a 7 if you laugh on stage.
Why did you pick drama as your art subject for year 10?
Maude: I always loved acting and I knew that I would enjoy it. In addition, I really like the way Mr. White teaches due to his help last year in LAMDA as it was the first time I got a distinction.
Diya: I’ve done acting since I was about 4 and I really love going on stage and I wanted to have a good proper stage helmet before I left.
Do you have any last words to say?
Diya: Yeah! If you’re in year 9 I totally recommend taking drama next year ; it’s a great way to learn how to have a good stage presence, it helps build confidence and you get really close with the people who are doing it. It’s a lot of fun!
Maude: I agree- it’s incredible since you start with a bunch of strangers with whom it’s pretty uncomfortable to act with and then by the end of it you’re just like besties and comfortable around each other.
Many thanks to Diya and Maude for their answers!
