Drama

ARoUnD THE woRlD In 80 DAyS REVIEw

By KyRyl MyKyTyUK (3f)

On a sunny and hot afternoon of Wednesday 14 June, I had the pleasure of joining several Junior School Drama pupils and scholars on an enjoyable trip to The Lighthouse Theatre in Poole. Our purpose was to witness the delightful production of Around the World in 80 Days, a play inspired by Jules Verne's thrilling tale of fun, friendship, and adventure. Directed by Juliet Forster, the play immediately established a pleasurable, positive, and happy vibe that resonated throughout the entire performance.

One aspect that particularly impressed me was the remarkable achievement of the five-person cast Unlike other productions, such as Ocean at the End of the Lane, which we had the privilege of watching at the Royal Theatre in Bath during the Lent Term, where a large cast worked together backstage to execute intricate movements, the five actors in Around the World in 80 Days single-handedly managed all the devised movements while seamlessly transitioning between multiple roles Their ability to synchronise these movements while maintaining the fluidity of the play was truly commendable

I found two moments in the play to be both fascinating and creatively executed One involved the actors ingeniously using a ladder and various props to create the illusion of a moving train Another highlight was when Aouda, skilfully puffing the sides of her grey dress, tied a rope to her leg, and passed it through a ladder with Phileas Fogg and Nellie Bly perched on top, creating the illusion of them riding an elephant Alongside these impressive visual elements, the actors expertly employed specialised accents for each character, with W ilson Benedito’s portrayal of Passepartout standing out as particularly hilarious

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Around the World in 80 Days Despite being directed at a younger audience, which resulted in the presence of many younger children, the play captivated and entertained me To top off the evening on a high note, our drama teacher, Mrs Clayton, pleasantly surprised us by making a pit stop at McDonald’s, treating us to a delightful dinner It was truly a wonderful way to conclude a memorable Wednesday!