Over the last few weeks, Year 9 Russian, German and Latin linguists have been working on staging theatre performances in their target language. The performances took place on Thursday 7th and Monday 11th of July and were an absolute treat for all!
The Russian group chose a story called Kolobok about a little escapee bun trying to make it through a forest full of animals willing to taste it! The protagonist, Kolobok, was played by Bori, who amazed everyone with her gymnastics and singing skills in her portrayal of the bun. The actors learnt their lines by heart and the audience enjoyed a really fun and engaging performance. There was also a lot of teamwork behind the scenes: from making the decorations to represent a Russian izba (a village house) to background pictures, sound effects and costume-making.
The two German groups chose a story called ‘Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten’, a story of four animals – a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster – all too old and frail to be of any use to their owners anymore, who decide to head to the city of Bremen and become musicians. On their way, they come across a lovely house in the middle of the woods, where three robbers are happily eating and drinking. The animals manage to scare the robbers away and move into the house themselves, where they live happily ever after. While the actors all practised their parts and learned their lines, there was a lot of work behind the scenes, making props, designing a programme, and making a slideshow to accompany the performance.
Last but certainly not least, the Latin plays were based around the destruction of Pompeii as depicted at the end of the Cambridge Latin Course Book I. The first play was based on the story ‘tremores’. All the citizens are confused about what is happening as the tremors get bigger and they see smoke rising from Vesuvius. The second play was based on the story ‘ad villam’ – Clemens tries to get back to the house of Caecilius to save his master. The third play was based on the story ‘finis’. Clemens finds his master, half- dead. Caecilius frees Clemens and sends him away to find his son Quintus. Caecilius dies and his faithful dog, Cerberus, stays with him to the end. A very emotional end!
A huge round of applause and well done to all those involved – it was a truly wonderful and entertaining wrap-up to the year’s hard work!
