Highlight of the Week

Powerful collaboration

This week, our brilliant Senior pupils performed a devised production of HOME to an enthralled audience.

The performance started as a project to highlight the refugee crisis and extend the fabulous work Miss Morton and the Primary Section have been undertaking over the last couple of years to help us gain School of Sanctuary status; the first independent school in the UK to achieve this accreditation.

The pupils and I collaborated together to create scenes and adapt written material to translate the message that Miss Morton has been teaching through her project work to create a performance for our Senior parents and a matinee for Years 5 and 6.

The process was thought provoking, challenging and insightful with all pupils showing incredible maturity, sensitivity and compassion in creating and performing the very sensitive and sombre themes. The performance was designed to also highlight misconceptions and how words matter when talking to and about refugees. Timea T-T reflected on how it has given her 'a different perspective on the crisis and how, while the situation is very sad, it has helped show that there is hope for refugees to find respite and feel somewhat at 'home' if we do what we can to help.'

The strong ensemble cast effortlessly multi-rolled throughout the performance to convey many different perspectives and scenes were complemented by video projections to enhance the message further. We are particularly grateful to Olena, who fled Ukraine with her family and was hosted at the home by Mrs Ellis Owen, for sharing her heart wrenching story so honestly with us through video recording.

It was also wonderful to see some new faces in the cast, for some it was their first Senior production, but with the talent and poise on display, you wouldn't have known. Well done also to those who worked behind the scenes running the projections, controlling the lighting and helping backstage.  

All of the proceeds from ticket sales have been donated to the British Red Cross who are providing vital aid to those affected by the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria.