Recently our first student-led production, Alice By Heart, hit the stage. A creative team of nine Sixth Form students turned months of planning, hard work, and pure imagination into a reality, as a cast of twelve executed their creative vision with passion and dedication. Every aspect of this show was designed and executed by students from across the School. Merla (assisted by Lydia) expertly led the cast and creatives as Producer and Artistic Director; it was Merla’s unwavering determination that got the project off the ground, and her contagious passion and collaborative style drove this production to the success that it was. Other elements of the Creative Team included the whimsical and expressive choreography by Fleur, Hannah, Kate, and Phoebe, the ethereal musical direction from Galina and Candis, and absolutely masterful stage-management from Mia, who has worked tirelessly to keep everyone on track all term.

Other members of the student-led backstage team worked hard to learn the ropes, taking over from our patient and professional technical staff, Ms. Izzard-Davey, Mr. Paton, Mr. Morley, and Mr. Hall, who generously passed on their knowledge when it came to sound, lighting, costume, props, art and design, marketing, front of house, and hair and make-up. The show follows Alice, a teenage girl stuck in an air-raid shelter during World War II, as she tries to survive the harsh realities of war. Tegan’s heartfelt performance as Alice was completely captivating. Her poignant portrayal of Alice was playful and moving in equal measure, as she steered the show, never leaving the stage for the entire 90 minutes of the performance. Accompanying Alice on her journey is her close friend, Alfred, played thoughtfully by Anna, who engaged the audience with compelling and heart-breaking authenticity. When Alfred becomes unwell, Alice retreats into her imagination, where she finds herself in the fantastical world of Wonderland.

Here, the story of Alice in Wonderland serves as a parallel to Alice’s personal journey through fear, loss, and the passage from childhood to adulthood. Whilst Alice navigates the surreal world of Wonderland, she meets the iconic characters from the original story. Key to our tale were the Cheshire Cat (a transcendent Bernice), the Caterpillar (pensively played by a mysterious pairing of Trinity and Lucy), the Duchess (a flamboyant Fleur), The Queen and King of Hearts (a commanding Kaitlin and long-suffering Nivana), The Queen of Diamonds and Knave of Spades (enchantingly played by Rida and Kate), and the Mad Hatter and the Dormouse (the brilliantly eccentric Xena and Molly). These characters represent various aspects of Alice’s inner turmoil and coping mechanisms, as she struggles to make sense of her circumstances.

To say we are proud of everyone involved for their outstanding contributions to this project is an enormous understatement. Their creativity, dedication, and teamwork brought this magical story to life, showcasing the remarkable potential of our student body. Well done!

Mrs. Sellers