LORD OF THE FLIES

Traditionally, Lord of the Flies by William Golding follows the story of a group of young school boys who find themselves stranded on an island after their plane crashes. However, the much-anticipated Ruyton and Trinity Senior School Play for 2020 adopted a different approach – casting the play as gender-neutral – and thus making what unfolds on stage not only a battle between morality and instinct, but also a compelling dissection of gender stereotypes. It is rare to find a cast so prepared to surrender to the emotional currents of such a demanding script; but there we were, our first rehearsal in January, already keenly aware that we had something pretty special on our hands. Throughout the rehearsal process, there were many triumphs – the most significant being our cast’s ability to approach the heavy content with responsibility and maturity, and channelling it to evoke an indescribable emotional power with which the whole performance was carried. The directing, design, cast and crew work that went into this show was far beyond what any of us had ever envisioned. So, it was natural that the unforeseen entrance of COVID-19 on our opening (turned closing) night shook the team morale. Worries of relatives, friends and teachers who wouldn’t be able to view the show crept in, but these anxieties were alleviated almost instantly. As always, the two schools did everything possible to ensure that our blood, sweat and tears would be put to good use, and so professional filming was arranged. Although performing to rows of empty chairs and a camera was not what we anticipated, we still put on a show. The passion that was poured into this project; the growth of fellow cast mates each time they took the stage; the bonds of a family who had worked closely for so long … that was reflected within us, regardless of whether or not an audience was present. Retrospect is a wonderful thing; one realises that sometimes in our new world you don’t always need an audience for theatre to be theatre, and you most certainly don’t need it to remind yourself why all of the hard work was worth it. Charly Oakley Year 12 Drama Captain